An Oped: Vihiga County is Missing out on a Solar Revolution!

Walk through the villages of Vihiga County and you’ll see the shiny solar panels, fixed beside water pumps, catching our hot midday sun. They are meant to solve our water problems and lower our bills. In some places they work — but too often, they are like new bicycles left to rust: shiny at first, but quickly forgotten, the Lunyerere Water project is a case in point.

Photo: Lunyerere Water Project

Right now, these panels are doing the bare minimum — running water pumps or even worse already faulty— and the rest of the power they could produce is simply wasted. That’s a huge missed opportunity. The sun gives us more than enough to pump water and send extra electricity to the national grid, putting money back into our communities.

The power we are not using

Every of the ward climate change projwct in Vihiga has about 20 panels, and the Lunyerere Water site has over 100. Together, they generate thousands of units of electricity every month. If we connect these systems properly — using the right equipment to step up the voltage, store energy, and combine output from multiple sites — we could feed a steady supply into the national grid.

Photo: Kayila Water Project: Luanda South Ward

Physics tells us this won’t magically make “100 times” more power — stepping up voltage alone doesn’t create more energy. But by capturing more of what the panels already produce, and by pooling the energy from many sites, we could deliver many times more usable electricity to KENGEN. That means higher earnings — potentially tens of thousands of shillings each month — money that could directly cut water bills for households. Who isn't lamenting about the high electricity bill?

Why it’s not happening

The biggest problem isn’t the sun — it’s poor execution. Too many of these projects use cheap parts, are badly installed, and receive no regular maintenance.

• Wires crack under the sun.

• Panels are fixed at the wrong angle.

• Controllers and inverters are too small for future expansion.
  When the systems break, the pumps stop, and families are back to carrying water from rivers.

This is not what money from the World Bank’s FLLOCA programme was meant for. That money is supposed to bring long-lasting benefits, not short-lived photo opportunities.

What needs to change

If Vihiga is serious about turning solar into a real tool for development, here’s the way forward:

1. Build quality, not just quantity – Use proper materials, correct installation methods, and equipment that can be upgraded.

2. Train and hire local maintenance teams – So when a part fails, it’s fixed the same week, not the next election season.

3. Aggregate and sell surplus power – Combine the output from all wards into a mini-grid that can feed the national system and generate steady income.

4. Be open about results – Publish how much power is made, how much is used or sold, and exactly how the earnings reduce water bills.

The bigger picture

Climate change is hitting our farmers, our water sources, and our wallets. Solar energy can be part of the solution — but only if it’s done right. We have enough sunlight to power more than just our pumps. With the right planning, the same projects that give us water could also give us cheaper bills and extra income.

The sun shines on Vihiga every day. It’s time for our leaders to make sure that light is turned into lasting value — not wasted potential.

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About Author: Kevin Makova