This archive report was first published on 11 June 2020.
Published on June 11, 2020, a report by Davis & Shirtliff highlights the challenges faced by rural households in accessing clean water in Kenya.
According to the report, access to clean water remains a pipe dream for many of the poorest rural households in the country.
Chairman of Davis & Shirtliff, Mr. Alec Davis, noted that water access challenges have been compounded by an over-supply of costly diesel and electric powered generators and pumps that remain out of reach for the rural population.
“These installations are expensive to purchase, run and maintain and are not viable for poorer rural requirements,” said Mr. Davis.
With the absence of suitable alternatives, rural households that can afford a water pumping system but lack access to electric mains power rely on traditional hand pumps.
According to the UNICEF and the World Health Organization's 2017 Joint monitoring Programme on water and sanitation, 40 per cent of the country's households lack access to the precious resource close to home.
However, with the extraordinary development of solar technology over the past decade, a much better alternative is now available – solar powered pumping systems.
Mr. Davis explained that the regional water and energy solutions provider has developed a wide range of economical and efficient solar pumps dubbed, Dayliff Sunflow solar pumps.
“Benefits of this new solution are huge with capital costs of the pumps being lower than traditional hand pumps and providing totally cost and maintenance free operation – systems simply start with the sun and pump all day,” said Mr. Davis.
