Consumer View: Why Kenyan households are switching to solar

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Kenyan households grapple with the highest electricity prices in East Africa, paying three times more than Ethiopia, the country with the cheapest electricity in the region. For John Kaguo, a father of five residing in Muranga County, these high electricity prices, coupled with unreliable services, prompted him to switch to a solar home system.

• "The increasing token prices from Kenya Power were really hitting our pockets each month, and the bills often seemed inaccurate," John explained during a recent conversation. The unreliability of the grid compounded the issues.

• Though he enjoys the reliability of solar power, the current installed capacity cannot support energy-intensive activities like water pumping. And he plans to upgrade in future.

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Driven by a desire for a more stable and affordable power source, John chose to invest approximately $2,000 in a comprehensive solar home system. This included seven 2,000-watt monocrystalline panels, two 24V batteries for energy storage, and a 240V inverter to power his household needs.

"Making the switch to solar has already made a noticeable difference to our monthly expenses," John tells us. He estimates saving around $40 every month compared to his previous electricity bills. "That's money we can now use for other important things for our family."

Beyond the immediate cost savings, John also values the enhanced safety his solar installation provides, especially with young children in the house. He contrasted this with the exposed wiring he had observed with the grid connection.

Currently, he primarily uses his solar system for lighting his home. He notes that aligning the system's capacity with their current energy needs has contributed to its effectiveness. Looking to the future, John is considering expanding his system to power more appliances, including a water pump connected to his generator.

"My only current limitation is wanting to do more with the solar power, like running my water pump without relying solely on the generator," John mentioned. He is optimistic about upgrading his setup to achieve greater energy independence.

“Solar power guarantees a consistent electricity supply. Even on days with insufficient sunlight, it can still generate power. Compared to the grid in rural areas here, blackouts can sometimes last more than 24 hours. Just a few days ago, a tree fell on a power line, and it took more than two days to fix. Only those with solar power, like me, experienced uninterrupted life.”

Based on his positive experience, he strongly encourages other families facing high electricity costs and unreliable grid service to consider solar energy. "Other than that, I recommend that any family switch to solar as soon as they can. The savings and the peace of mind are  worth it."

For him and many others in Kenya, solar power is proving to be a financially sound and dependable solution, offering a path away from the burdens of expensive and unreliable grid electricity.