Residents of Ngong town will soon benefit from a solar energy project currently under construction by the Kajiado County Government.
The aim of the County sponsored initiative is to utilise sustainable and renewable green energy through the use of solar panels to generate electricity.
The solar generated electricity that costs an approximate Sh200, 000 per panel is anticipated to provide an alternative low cost source of electricity and minimise disruption caused by power outages.
According to Ngong town Member of County Assembly (MCA), Robert Muoria, the installation of the solar panels in the town will play a critical role in the reduction of electricity consumption and consequently decrease the high cost of electricity bills which have a high levy.
“We are currently installing solar panels for the Umoja Water Project in Mathare area so that we can do away with paying of electricity bills. The project will be solar powered. We will also replicate the same in Gichagi area,” said Muoria.
He noted that security measures through community policing have been put in place to protect the solar panels under installation from vandalism experienced in the initial phase of the project where solar powered street lights erected between Corner Shop and Suswa to boost the security in the area were vandalised and stolen.
Moses Lemaiyan, a resident of Ngong town, said vandalism of solar panels is rampant within Ngong town because of its high demand as an alternative source of energy for lighting and heating due to the high cost of electricity.
“There were solar street lights in Salama area and also between Ngong and Kiserian which have all been vandalised. The street lights helped in reducing insecurity and businesses could operate for longer but the solar street lights have been stolen and security has deteriorated,” Lemaiyan stated.
Over 30 solar powered street lights that had been erected in Ngong town in the first phase of the solar project in response to the surge in insecurity in the town have been vandalised.
By Amy Moyi
