Murang'a County to install solar energy in 70 health facilities

When Macharia Chege from Murang'a won a brand new Solar Panel in the Tatua Bonanza Live Show. He said he would use it at home and save up on electricity bills for other expenses. [File, Standard]

High electricity bills have forced the Murang'a County government to install solar energy in health facilities.

The county government has listed 70 out of 157 health facilities for installation of solar panels to save millions of shillings monthly.

Governor Irungu Kang’ata said connecting the health facilities and boreholes with solar energy will be a major milestone in cost reduction.

"We have already identified two health facilities per ward and several boreholes for connection to clean green energy," he said

Health and Sanitation Chief Officer Wanjohi Karoga revealed that 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 currently under construction will be connected to solar energy.

“Murang’a Referral Hospital spends between Sh800,000 and Sh1.2 million, and Maragua Sh400,000 and Sh600,000 on electricity bills while the dispensaries each spend between Sh17,000 and Sh25,000,” said Wanjohi.  

Deputy Speaker Moses Gachui said the installation of solar energy will help the county government save a lot of money.

“Solar is one of the reliable sources of energy that should be promoted to reduce emission into the atmosphere,” said Gachui. 

Kahumbu MCA Chefman Njoroge said the installation of solar panels will help reduce bills and improve efficiency.

He regretted that services were paralysed at Gathimaini and Mugumoini dispensaries in Kahumbu after transformers were vandalised.

“We support installation of solar energy in our facilities as we have suffered after the transformers were vandalised,” said Njoroge.