More than 117 schools and health centers in dry areas of Kenya have been utilizing hydro-generated electricity. As a result, the cost of energy utilization is soaring towards the poverty driven community. In the view of this, Kenya has granted a solar power establishment contract to “Power Options Limited” and “Go Solar  Limited,” a private solar energy development companies with tenders amounting to Sh273.6 million towards the installation, commission and testing of solar panels in health centers and educational institutions which never had electricity or any other source of power. This initiative has also been set up by the government to test the outcome so that solar energy technology can be spread across throughout the country.

According to Mr Patrick Nyoike, secretary in the Ministry of Energy, this project has been distinctively planned for rural areas located at a distance from the national power grid. However, he did say that the power generated out of the project would not be allowed to go to the cities.
Towards the lighting up of dry regions in the North Eastern province the government has set aside a budget of Sh500 million towards the funding of this project. This decision was taken in the 2009/2010 annual budget meeting.
Knowing that the northern region has sunshine throughout the year, Mr Nyoike considers this project as a successful plan towards rural electrification programs. The expansion of this project towards generation of energy via renewable sources like solar, wind and biogas was speeded up barely four months after Prime Minister Raila Odinga was appointed.

If the wind and solar resources are properly planned and utilized, the electricity generation capacity in Kenya can go more than 3,000 MW which can power its widespread dry districts in the north.
The use of clean energy would assist in inoculating more power to the national grid, this would prove beneficial in lessening the fears of investors and manufacturing sectors who have been apprehensive about investing in Kenya.
As per the manufacturers, expensive electricity bills are as a result of expensive locally produced goods. Moreover, with the clean power utilization Kenya could benefit from irregular electricity supplies which affects many industries, a recent example being the major power crisis which hit the country from August to October.

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