Access to clean water remains a struggle for many of rural Kenya’s poorest households. Some counties, such as Tharaka Nithi – where rural electrification is widely lacking – are now tapping into solar energy to pump water to villages from nearby rivers keeping their water storage tanks full.
Mbeo Ogeya says the use of solar power to fuel water pumping and irrigation “can be a game changer in energy and food security for marginalized parts of Kenya”.
Residents in Tharaka Nithi say easier access to water has made a difference in their lives, particularly those of women and girls, who are traditionally charged with gathering water.
Funded by the county government at a cost of 8 million Kenya shillings ($80,000) the solar pump project serves over 40,000 people.