Kenya: Solar street lights to drive clean energy push in major city

Plans for the solar street lights project, is set to achieve 98% lighting coverage within the city in the west of Kenya

Kenya’s fifth city – in the west of the East African nation – is set for a major energy overhaul driven by a solar street lights project. 

Uasin Gishu County is one step closer to transforming Eldoret City into a smart, safe and energy-efficient metropolis with the launch of the Eldoret City Solar-Powered Street Lighting Project.

The $23 million Public-Private Partnership (PPP) will see the construction of a 3MWp solar power generation plant with a 10MWh storage capacity, alongside the installation of a 200-kilometre underground distribution network equipped with fibre optic cabling for high-speed connectivity.

The project will also feature over 20,000 adaptive LED streetlights integrated with CCTV surveillance cameras for enhanced urban security, as well as smart controls for remote monitoring, adaptive lighting, and predictive maintenance.

Transformative impact of solar street lights

The Kenya News Agency reported that according to the project plan, the solar-powered street lighting system will: 

• lower public lighting costs by up to 50% 
• extend safe working hours for a thriving night economy 
• reduce crime rates 
• improve road safety 
• minimise the carbon footprint in line with Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

In August, the county government conducted public participation forums across various wards to involve residents in the planning of the 15-year project.

This encompasses two years of construction followed by 13 years of operation, maintenance and eventual transfer to the county.

This week the county government confirmed that it is finalising plans for the solar street lighting project, which is set to achieve 98% lighting coverage within the city.

Increasing the city’s electricity access rate

Eldoret is Kenya’s fifth city, officially granted city status in August 2024. It follows Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru in this designation and is the capital of Uasin Gishu County. 

In terms of the region’s overall energy access, deputy governor Evans Kapkea, said the county administration’s goal is to increase connectivity in the region from the current 65% to 95% by 2030, “so as to drive economic growth, promote entrepreneurship and enable digital job creation.”

“Our county is currently leading from the front in embracing green energy. A solar system now powers our headquarters, and plans are underway to solarise security lights and sub-county offices, demonstrating our commitment to clean, renewable energy,” said Kapkea.

Connecting rural households

He said the administration was currently implementing the Stima Mashinani and Transformer Maximisation Programme in collaboration withthe Rural Electrification Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), which had already connected more than 900 households across all the six sub-counties including Lelmokwo in Kesses, Siliboi in Ainabkoi, Mobet in Soy, Kapchemaget in Turbo, Kabiyet in Moiben, and Koshin Kaptien in Kapseret.

The second phase of the project is underway, targeting more homes, schools and enterprises to ensure no household in the county remains in darkness, according to the Kenya News Agency.

Over the past three years, the county administration had installed more than 3,500 new street lights in estates, markets and villages.

This effort had improved public safety, extended business hours and enabled the youth and women traders to work confidently at night.

Cover photo:   Eldoret is Kenya’s fifth city, officially granted city status in August 2024 and is seeing major housing and infrastructure development. Source: ahb_kenya/X