Tana River is developing its first toolkit that will assist them to create an electricity development plan through the use of natural resources like wind, solar, biomass, hydro, and waste.
The project is funded by the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT). It is implemented by Ricardo and Kenya Climate Change Working Group (KCCWG) organizations in Baringo, Migori, and Tana River counties.
The Ricardo organization and KCCWG will assist the county government’s energy departments in developing the toolkits.
Jackie Nyaoro, Ricardo Business Development Manager, spoke at a Hola hotel during a capacity building for the electricity sector Counties Programme for Decentralized Energy Systems (CODES).
She said, “As specialists in clean energy, Ricardo will promote coordinated new investment in low-carbon decentralized electricity generation, considering the needs for different technological solutions, including mini-grid and off-grid solutions.”
KCCWG Chairman, John Kioli, said they will assist Tana River to develop its toolkit which will enable them to discern the potential and magnitude of energy.
“Anyone who wants to invest in this county will use the toolkit for guidance and direction. Tana River will open up if we get beneficial energy. Farming will gain momentum; they will be a surge in industries because electricity will be sufficient,” said the KCCWG Chairman.
Kioli urged county governments to consider future generations by the use of clean energy through policy formulations.
Tana River County Director of water and energy, Engineer Felix Mumba, said they will include the toolkit in their third County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP). The current CIDP ends in June this year.
He added that the toolkit will guide investors in the energy sector. Far-flung villages like Waldena and Assa are 200 Kilometres from the main grids.
“We are targeting facilities like hospitals and schools that are far from the main grid. Our county is expansive hence we must have a plan to ensure each area has electricity,” said the County Director.
Energy is a catalyst for development, Engineer Mumba said, after the plan, they will develop an energy policy, which will assist the county in their urbanization agenda.
“We are blessed with a micro-climate. We have solar, wind, and tidal energy from sea waves they can generate enormous energy to help us in the area of urbanization,” he said.
According to the Energy Act (2019), county governments are supposed to develop a county energy plan and submit it to the Cabinet Secretary in charge of energy in respect of their energy requirement.
The CS will then integrate all the county government plans into an integrated national energy plan to be reviewed every three years.
By Sadik Hassan
