Kenya has the highest electricity access rate in East Africa. According to a May 2018 Multi-Tier Framework Energy Access Survey Report, the vital commodity is available to about 75% of Kenya’s population.
While the figure stands out, a project in the country is looking to make electricity accessible to even more Kenyans, especially in rural areas.
Compassion International Kenya and Schneider Electric teamed up to support up to 1,700 homes in rural the East African country with access to energy. Beneficiaries of the program receive a Homaya Solar Home System, an all in one stand-alone solar solution that meets all the critical energy needs of a home.
By providing access to electricity, the project helps lift the target Kenyans out of economic, physical and social poverty. It helps citizens of Kenya’s rural areas move away from kerosene lamps which not only affect human health but also pollute the environment.
According to the Senior Manager of Business Support at Compassion International, Ms. Linet Ochieng, the organization seeks to ensure children, in particular, can thrive and achieve their full potential by addressing their physical, social and economic needs. She pointed out that the solar lamps aim to remove obstacles that impede the holistic development of children.
“The solar lamps will go a long way to improve academic standards, reduce health risks and provide adequate and affordable lighting not only to the child beneficiary but also families and the community will benefit,” she said.
The Homaya Solar Home System by Schneider Electric was designed to meet three key specifications: robustness, quality and affordability. The reliable lithium ferro phosphate battery, which has a five-year lifespan, comes with two lamps with five-meter long cables, enabling them to be positioned around the home. The battery can also charge 1-2 portable lamps and power direct-current (DC) devices such as televisions, fans and radios, while its three USB ports can charge devices such as mobile phones. It is also possible to add a second solar panel to accelerate the battery charging.
“Schneider Electric’s mission is to offer all its clients solutions that are safe, reliable, efficient and sustainable. For populations who are not yet connected to the grid, solutions like Homaya come in handy as these products have been designed to withstand conditions such as extreme heat or humidity, while also being affordable,” said Carol Koech, Head of Sustainability, Schneider Electric East Africa.
“We are excited about this partnership with Compassion International as it gives us the opportunity to impact the communities of Kenya matching our commitment to promote sustainable development and provide safe and clean access to energy,” she added.
Projects such as this undertaken by Schneider Electric help promote economic development as they support access to education, help increase productivity by entrepreneurs, improvements quality of life and also aid in the movement to low carbon energies.
