This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
On a mission to improve the lives of many Kenyans, brothers Richard Ambani and Christopher Ndunga have invented an improvised electric fence system that can supply power to up to 170 hectares. The system, which has been put together from various electronics, does not give an indication when it is on or off, making it difficult for intruders to sneak through.
According to the brothers, their main aim when coming up with this innovation was to prove that resistors used in electronic materials can produce renewable energy. The idea was born when they travelled to northern Kenya where cattle rustling is rampant. They established that the cattle theft happened mostly under the cover of darkness where raiders take advantage of the area's poor power coverage.
"This is completely different from the electric fences people erect, in that, it charges itself. It doesn’t need energy from any source-not even the sun. The machine generates its own energy and can run a lot of electronic appliances at once," says Ambani.
The machine can also be used for lighting as it has a slot for direct current that has up to 24 volts that can accommodate bulbs. "One advantage of the machine is its durability since it can generate power for over 15 years," the duo tells Hashtag.
The new electric fence is also much cheaper as the only cost incurred is the purchase cost. The machine is also not affected by weather and there are no power shortages. The brothers call on the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation to embrace their idea by putting the innovation to series of research and tests to ensure that it conforms to the standards and guidelines as dictated in the Science, Technology and Innovation Act 2013.
