By Jameson
Residents of Kenya’s coastal region will soon benefit from a more affordable and reliable water supply as the Baricho Solarization Project in Kilifi County nears completion.
Water Cabinet Secretary Eric Murithi said the project is about 90 percent complete and is expected to significantly lower the high electricity costs currently required to pump water to households across the region.
Murithi made the remarks during an inspection visit to the Baricho water works in Kilifi County, where the government is installing thousands of solar panels to power water pumping operations.
He noted that pumping water in the region has been costly due to the area’s low-lying terrain, which requires water to be pumped over long distances.
“At the moment, the Coast Water Works Development Agency spends between Sh60 million and Sh70 million every month on electricity,” Murithi said.
The electricity costs are currently covered by water service providers supplying water to Mombasa County, Kwale County and Kilifi County.
Murithi said the solarization project forms part of the government’s broader strategy to reduce operational costs while expanding water access for millions of residents in the coastal region.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, about 6,716 solar panels have already been installed at the solar farm, with the project expected to be completed within the next week.
Once operational, the facility will generate approximately 4.3 megawatts of power. However, Murithi acknowledged that this output will only cover a portion of the energy needed to operate the Baricho water supply system.
“It will generate 4.3 megawatts, which is about 20 percent of the total power requirement,” he said.
The solar-powered system will enable water from 11 boreholes in Baricho to be pumped to collection points using solar energy, reducing reliance on electricity supplied by Kenya Power.
Murithi added that the government plans to implement additional phases of the project to further address energy needs.
“We will require phase two and phase three of the solarization to fully resolve the challenge. We also plan to store power using lithium batteries,” he said.
He explained that the government intends to adopt a hybrid system that combines solar power with electricity from the national grid.
Engineers working on the project estimate that the solar installation could reduce electricity costs by at least 20 percent, easing the financial pressure on water utilities.
Chief Executive Officer of the Coast Water Works Development Agency, Hamoud Mguza, said the project will be instrumental in addressing one of the region’s major challenges.
“This initiative will go a long way in tackling one of the most pressing issues in the Coast region,” Mguza said.
However, he emphasized that the long-term sustainability of the water supply system will depend on consumers paying their water bills.
“The solar system also requires maintenance. We therefore urge residents to pay their water bills to ensure the service continues smoothly,” he said.
