This archive report was first published on 4 November 2019.
Deep in the valleys of Oldonyo Orok, located in Bissil, Kajiado, Moses Ole Koisabar's home is a beacon of hope. His solar-powered lights illuminate not only his own boma but also three other nearby manyattas, providing enhanced security for his prized animals and keeping predators at bay.
“Since I installed the solar systems, my livestock have not been attacked by hyenas and leopards, which roam the whole of this valley,” Ole Koisabar says. “And my children can now study at night with proper lights,” he adds.
The rapid evolution in the clean energy space has led to a surge in innovative solutions that provide lighting and clean cooking. To meet the emerging needs and financial abilities of rural households, some providers are offering pay-as-you-use solutions, similar to mobile telephony airtime top-up.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), traditional cooking methods contribute to the preventable death of 2.6 million people each year and sickens millions more. In Sub Saharan Africa, 550,000 are estimated to die from respiratory diseases related to smoke from indoor cooking fires.
Here in Kenya, the government, along with the World Bank, has rolled out the Kenya Off Grid Solar Program (KOSAP) to install solar mini grids in rural areas, enhancing access to power and bringing affordable light to households like Mzee Koisabar's.
At the recent Clean Energy Efficiency Conference (CEEC), innovative clean cooking solutions were showcased, including the JikoKoa cooking stove that uses less charcoal, burns for long, and has no emissions. The koko cooker, which uses ethanol fuel developed from sugarcane waste, is another innovative solution that addresses the biofuel menace.
However, inventors of such solutions face a daunting task of commercialising their innovations due to lack of funds. The high cost of solar panels has also seen slow uptake by most households out of the national grid network.
As the battle to save the Mau Escarpment continues, the need for clean energy solutions becomes increasingly pressing. With the government's efforts to remove people settled in the area, the burden of fetching firewood and burning charcoal falls heavily on women and the girl child.
It is estimated that 85 per cent of urban households use charcoal, spending up to Sh50,000 per year. The development and adoption of innovative solutions have lifted the burden on women and girls, improved health situations, and provided a glimmer of hope for a cleaner, more sustainable future.
