Kiambu County is taking a major leap toward sustainability by turning to solar energy to power community boreholes, ensuring reliable and affordable access to water while slashing electricity costs.
The initiative, led by the Department of Water, Environment, Natural Resources, Energy, and Climate Change, aims to solarize all boreholes across the county. The move addresses long-standing challenges where community water projects struggled with high power bills that consumed much of their revenue.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi said the shift reflects his administration’s commitment to clean energy and sustainable service delivery.
In the past, boreholes were powered by grid electricity, which proved costly and unsustainable. We are now adopting solar power—renewable energy that aligns with global climate solutions and our vision for a greener Kiambu, he said.
The county’s solarization journey began with a pilot project in Kikuyu Municipality, which delivered impressive results. According to County Executive Committee Member David Kuria, power costs dropped by 30–40 percent, saving millions in operational expenses.
Previously, Kikuyu Water and Sanitation Company paid over KSh 7 million monthly to Kenya Power. With solarization, this cost has fallen by nearly half, Kuria noted.
Encouraged by the success, the county replicated the model at the Gathanji borehole, significantly improving water supply consistency.
Resident Mbugua Thiong’o said, We used to go weeks without water, but now supply is frequent and reliable thanks to solarization.
Governor Wamatangi said the project not only promotes sustainability but also directly impacts citizens’ quality of life.
We drilled and solarized the Gathanji borehole to ease the community’s suffering and ensure affordable, reliable access to clean water, he said.
The county projects that the initiative could cut its total water bill from KSh 800 million to around KSh 400 million monthly, freeing resources for expanding access and funding other development projects.
The solarization program is part of Kiambu’s broader plan to mainstream green energy across public facilities, including street lighting and other utilities. Since Governor Wamatangi took office, more than 250,000 residents have been connected to water, raising countywide access to 75 percent.