Lamu County turns to solar as widespread blackouts disrupt daily life
In Mkokoni, a desalination plant that converts seawater into drinking water is sustained entirely by solar panels, while street lights across towns and villages are now solar powered.
Lamu residents are enduring prolonged electricity shortages that have disrupted daily life and slowed down essential services, pushing the county government to increasingly rely on solar energy as an alternative source of power.
For many locals, the erratic electricity supply has become a major obstacle to survival. Small traders say they are losing income, while households are left in the dark when blackouts drag on for hours or even days.
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“It is hard to run my kiosk when I cannot refrigerate drinks or keep stock fresh. Even when the lights come back on, the bills are too high for us to manage. It feels like we are being punished for a service that is not reliable,” said Ali Omar, a shopkeeper.
Fisherman Hassan Abdalla said power cuts have made it impossible to preserve his daily catch. “We depend on cold storage to sell fish, but when there is no electricity, everything goes bad. I end up making losses,” he explained.
Samya Mzee said her children often struggle to do homework at night due to the blackouts. “We have to use kerosene lamps, which are expensive and harmful to our health. It is very frustrating because our children deserve better,” she said.
Governor Issa Timamy said the county is facing a serious challenge and said his administration has turned to renewable energy to ease the burden.
“The county government cannot continue relying on the national grid, which is both expensive and unreliable. We are now investing in solar power to keep vital services running,” said Governor Timamy
According to him, several critical facilities have already been shifted to solar energy. Water wells connected to the Shela freshwater springs are using solar-powered pumps to deliver clean water to households.
In Mkokoni, a desalination plant that converts seawater into drinking water is sustained entirely by solar panels, while street lights across towns and villages are now solar powered.
Governor Timamy insisted the move is both cost-effective and sustainable, but residents are urging the national government and electricity providers to address the root causes of the power crisis.
“Solar has saved us in many ways. But long-term, we need stable electricity for the people of Lamu,” he said.
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