Impact of expensive electricity bills has pushed the Murang’a County Government to consider installing solar energy as a remedy. The county government has listed 70 out of 157 health facilities for installation of the solar panels focusing at saving millions of shillings monthly.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata says connecting the health facilities and bore holes with solar energy will be a major milestone in cost reduction. Already, two health facilities have been identified per ward and several bore holes for connection to clean green energy.
” We have a programme designed to cut costs and ensure the resources are injected to the projects that will impact positively with the residents,” said Kangata. Already, several boreholes at Mumbu, Turuturu, Kabati, Kigio, Ngelelya, Kaigwa, Kagongo, and Gakindu ECDE centre have been connected to green energy in the past two weeks.
Deputy Speaker Moses Gachui said installation of green energy will help the county government save a lot of money. Gachui, also Kihumbu ini MCA said Murang’a has 157 health facilities that consumes a lot of electricity thus need for a solution to tame the escalating bills.
“Solar is one of the reliable programmes that should be promoted to reduce emission into the atmosphere,” said Gachui. Kahumbu MCA Chefman Njoroge says installation of solar panels will help reduce bills and improve efficiency. He says in the year, Gathimaini and Mugumoini dispensaries in Kahumbu ward had their operations paralyzed after their transformers were vandalised.
” We support installation of solar energy in our facilities as we have suffered after the transformers were vandalised” said Njoroge. Health and Sanitation Chief Officer Wanjohi Karoga said three major hospitals have been identified to be connected with solar energy owing to the high electricity bills.
He said Murang’a county referral, Maragua level four and Kenneth Matiba level five under construction will be connected with solar energy. ” Murang’a referral hospital spends between Sh800,000 and Sh1.2 million, and Maragua Sh400,000 and Sh600,000.
” The dispensaries which are many each spend between Sh17,000 and Sh25,000,” said Wanjohi.