Accelerating access to electricity in rural Kenya through the Magiro Micro Hydro Power Project

The MHEL project seeks to avail a cheaper and Eco-friendly energy source for the rural community towards improving their livelihoods.

Long Description

According to Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA 2013), household electrification rates are estimated to fall between 23% and 26% which suggests that an estimated 3.3 million households in Kenya are connected to the national grid. With electricity being a vital input in the socio-economic development of the country, growth is impeded by the lack of adequate connectivity.

An environmental report published by Murang’a County Board indicates that the major source of Energy in the county includes fuel-wood, charcoal, Kerosene and crop residue for majority of rural people, thus proving existence of a huge gap in electricity sector. The major threat to the environment is reduction of forest/tree cover as the demand for tree-based fuel increases hence generating huge volumes of carbon dioxide.

It is on this basis that MHEL, a simple innovation that uses locally available materials, was established with the aim of enhancing the affordability of electricity through the development of inexpensive, quality and innovative means of generating electric power. It seeks to empower the local communities to have better living conditions by increasing their opportunities for making productive economic investments while promoting a culture that uses eco-friendly power.