Ngong Solar Powered Lighting Project Faces Vandalism Threat
By Amy Moyi, DevReporter, Kajiado County
Key Highlights
- Solar powered streetlights installed to enhance security in Ngong town have been vandalised, leading to a rise in insecurity.
- The solar streetlights offered a cost-effective alternative to traditional electricity powered streetlights, which were frequently turned off due to the Kajiado County government’s failure to pay electricity bills.
- The Kenyan government, through its Vision 2030 development agenda, aims to promote the use of renewable energy sources like solar.
Over thirty solar-powered streetlights, part of the Kajiado County government’s climate-smart solar lighting project, have been vandalised in Ngong town. This project was initiated to address rising security concerns in the area.
The solar lighting system relies on sustainable energy from solar panels to generate electricity, providing a reliable option in response to the rising insecurity in Ngong.
Residents have highlighted the importance of these solar powered streetlights in enhancing safety, especially following the theft and vandalism of the solar panels that powered them.
Eliminated Frequent Blackouts
John Mulwa, a local resident, noted that the solar powered streetlights eliminated frequent blackouts associated with electricity-powered streetlights, which were often disconnected due to the county government’s failure to pay bills.
“The solar powered streetlights improved security, but now insecurity is rampant because they have been stolen and sold for a pittance. The electric streetlights are useless since they are disconnected when the bills go unpaid,” Mulwa explained.
He expressed concern over the financial loss to residents, as each solar panel cost the county government approximately two hundred thousand Kenyan shillings.
“When the solar panels are stolen, it represents a significant loss for residents because the project is funded by taxpayer money. The county government needs to find better installation methods to prevent theft, as the current setup makes them easy targets for vandalism,” Mulwa said.
Benson Kimani, a resident of Umoja area in Ngong, said that the benefits of the solar powered streetlights for enhancing security were short-lived, as they were vandalised shortly after installation.
“The solar powered streetlights initially improved security, but they were vandalised within a short time. Now, residents are afraid to be out after dark or leave early for work due to safety concerns, which is quite inconvenient,” Kimani added.
In accordance with Vision 2030, the Kenyan government aims to promote the development of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and biogas by the year 2030.
However, challenges like theft and vandalism of national resources, such as solar panels, must be addressed to achieve this development agenda.
