- The World Bank is funding a clean energy access project in Kenya.
- The $4.58m (KSH503m) project will provide clean energy to over 5,000 households.
- The project is expected to be completed by next year.
Over 5,000 households, scores of public facilities, including schools, offices and health centres, are set to benefit from the World Bank-funded “Kenya off-grid Solar Access Programme” in Isiolo County. The programme seeks to increase access to clean energy in remote areas and is being implemented across targeted villages, including Oldonyiro, Leparua, Bassa, Kombola, Malkagalla, Rapsu, Iresaboru, Malkadaka, Badana, Kipsing and Gafarsa.
According to the Governor of Isiolo county, Governor Mohamed Kuti, 5,300 households will be connected to electricity at no cost. He also added that increased electricity access would also boost education and health. Students will study at night, while patients will now have access to essential services that they would otherwise travel kilometres away from their homes to obtain.
He noted that mini-grids would be installed to provide the much-needed electricity in these areas. Ass part of the project, twenty-two solar-powered boreholes will also be developed across the villages and public facilities to increase water access and mitigate the effects of climate change in the region. Communities in the areas have already donated parcels of land where the power stations will be built.
Governor Kuti also added that the ten villages would benefit from “Sh10 million in-kind” compensation for providing land for the projects. Residents will decide on the community project that they want to be implemented. The project is expected to be complete by mid-2022.