Watts Up Magazine wattsup magazine online | Page 28
COUNTY FOCUS
KIAMBU
Going green
after an energy audit
Engineer Njeri Mburu in her office
K
iambu County Government is in the
process of formulating and adopting
a renewable energy policy. The
policy, supported by Kenya Association
of Manufacturers, is in alignment with
the country’s renewable energy policy. In
the process to come up with the policy,
the county has assessed what energy its
residents and firms consume, and how they
can switch from conventional to renewable
energy.
As Kenya’s industrial power base, Kiambu
County is taking early steps to develop its
renewable resources to meet energy demand
By Nduku Muema
Biogas plant
Engineer Njeri Mburu, the county’s executive
committee member for roads, transport,
public works and utilities says they have
identified gaps and opportunities.
“We tabulated the data and have established
who is using what and what projects to start
in order to build capacity and switch to
renewable energy,” Eng. Njeri says.
One of the main projects is to start a
biogas plant. The county is partnering with
slaughter owners, financiers and donors to
start a biogas plant.
28
WATTS UP MAGAZINE APR - MAY 2017
“The county has four private slaughter houses in Dagoretti
which produce waste that is currently polluting the
environment. Our plan is to partner with them; they give us
the waste, we provide the land and set up a biogas plant,” says
Ms Njeri. “We expect to produce enough energy to feed to the
national grid and generate revenue that will be shared among
the county and partners.”
Eng. Njeri says the county hopes to create revenue as well
as help save the environment, adding that at the individual
level; they are encouraging small-scale farmers to use biogas
instead of firewood and charcoal.