Murang’a county government has started works on installing solar power to all local boreholes in efforts to reduce electricity power bills.
The devolved administration has opted to use solar power after some of the boreholes stopped operating due to accrued huge power bills.
Already, some boreholes serving residents in various local hospitals, markets and schools have been installed with solar panels.
In a public notice, Governor Irungu Kang’ata’s administration indicated huge amounts of money have been used to clear power bills incurred during pumping of water from the boreholes.
The money, Kang’ata noted, will be diverted to support other development projects since the operations of the boreholes will be powered by solar energy.
“The county government has taken the initiative to solarise boreholes in the county in an effort to reduce the power bills that come about by using electricity,” Kang’ata indicated in the notice.
The use of solar energy, the governor added, will help to revive boreholes that have collapsed due to huge power bills.
“Solar powered systems will also end frequent electricity disruptions that have seen residents lack water from boreholes,” he added.
He continued, “The first connection was at Mumbu and Turuturu bore holes in Kahumbu ward, Kigumo constituency where the residents are accessing water without challenges.”
He further disclosed that other boreholes that have been connected to solar energy are in Kabati, Kenol (Kandara), Kigio and Ngelelya( Gatanga), Kaigwa and Kagongo (Kiharu), and Gakindu Ecde in Maragua constituency.
On Thursday (last week), when he hosted a delegation from the Kingdom of Eswatini on a study on the impact of devolution and governance in Murang’a, Kang’ata said his administration will ensure electricity bills are brought down.
“Installation of solar energy will save the county government huge power bills and allow my administration to inject more resources into the development projects,” said Kang’ata.
By Bernard Munyao
