Posted on :Wednesday , 10th April 2024

The first solar street lighting project in Kiambu was put into service by the Kiambu County Government in Fort Jesus, Ruiru Sub-County.

The integrated solar street lighting was introduced as part of the urban transformation strategy by Governor Kimani Wamatangi, Ms. Salome Muthoni, CECM of Lands, Housing, Physical Planning and Municipalities and local MCAs.

Speaking to the Fort Jesus community, Wamatangi declared that 35 of the planned 115 solar street lights had already been placed, with the remaining 35 going up in the coming months.

The county was spending Ksh 142 million a month on electricity for street lights and the governor said that due to growing power rates, the amount spent will soon rise to Ksh 200 million.

Wamatangi went on to say that when construction on a new level 3 hospital in Kahawa Sukari ward, Ruiru Sub County, begins, all street lighting installations should be solar-oriented.

"If a solar lighting system is not installed, electricity costs would consume the majority of the county's budget," he stated.

"In order to save money, the county government will now invest in solar energy. If this trend continues, we won't have enough money to pay our electrical bills," he continued. "Any new street lighting projects must prioritise solar power." The governor said.

According to the CEC, the integrated solar street lighting project is only the first of many that will be carried out across Kiambu's sub-counties.

"We would like to say that this is the start of so many projects we have planned. We have come here to launch the solar street light project in Fort Jesus," Muthoni said.

The Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP), the Executive and the Kiambu County Government collaborate on the solar project.

Prior to the government's intention to convert to solar lighting systems, Kiambu County Government was paying Sh1.7 billion annually for electricity expenditures associated with street lights.

In Kiuu Ward in Bosnia (Riverside) and Gitambaya (Fort Jesus/Matopeni Settlement), Biashara Ward, Ruiru Sub-County, the solar street lighting project has begun.