Transformer vandalization can become a big problem for Kenyan development

Last week, the transformer near our energy kiosk at Kamahuha was vandalized. Some bad guys pulled down the transformer and removed everything there was. They seemed interested in two things: the coolant inside the transformer and the copper wire. Below are pictures taken at the scene by the UNIDO energy kiosk team. It really was nasty.



Today, when visiting another energy kiosk in Kiangombe, we came across another vandalized transformer. This one only had the coolant removed - it was not completely destroyed. In both cases we were told that it will take atleast one year before the transformers are replaced.



It is said that the coolant is sold to metal fabricators who use it to cool their welding machines. The copper is recycled and sold into the local market. Either way, this trend will most probably reverse all the gains of the rural electrification program in Kenya. The vandals are well versed with high power installation technology, hence it is feared that the staff or former staff of the power companies might be involved in this mayhem

ENERGY KIOSK FOR LIGHTING UP KENYA

Most of the population in Kenya live in Rural areas and more than 90% of the population lack access to commercial energy. Energy is a basic requirement for their development thus the need of energy as a prerequisite for sustainable development and achieving the goals of the UN Millennium Declaration to halve extreme poverty, halve the number of people who suffer from hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality and ensure environmental sustainability.

Energy security in Kenya faces a major challenge since ongoing Rural Electrification programs will take several decades to reach most village communities in Africa. Another key challenge is increased unemployment in rural areas that forces the youth to migrate to cities leading to overcrowding and crime. In addition, the COMESA report elucidates that 87% of raw material is exported without value addition and 50% of agricultural products from Sub Saharan Africa are wasted due to post harvest losses and lack of electricity to process them.

UNIDO's programme strategy on Rural Energy for East Africa targets those in remote/ off-grid areas, far from existing energy sources, those who are too poor to pay for the initial investment for energy related installation and those whose energy needs require a large amount of time and labour in order to get their needs satisfied.

The rural community in Kenya uses kerosene fuel for home lighting that results in high risk to respiratory illnesses among women and children who inhale the fumes; children also face difficulties when studying at night each home among other overlapping effects. UNIDO's response to this is the implementation of a programme strategy that will involve setting up 'Energy Kiosks' in rural off grid areas for generation of electricity/energy using renewable energy technologies such as micro hydropower, biogas generation through organic waste, biomass gasification, solar, wind and straight (unprocessed) vegetable oil. It doesn't matter what technology is used to power the Kiosk, the idea is to ensure that power or energy or electricity is available on demand. The easiest way to accomplish this is to use a gen set that can use normal plant oil to run.

The Energy Kiosks will provide energy services to rural communities where an alternative to kerosene lamps will be replaced by Light Emitting Diode (LED) to eliminate toxic indoor pollution by carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and fire hazards. This will improve quality of life by reducing incidence of respiratory and ophthalmic illness in rural women and children. The system will be run and operated by the rural community. Opportunities for employment will be provided and income generation through promotion of micro and small enterprises in the assembly/ manufacture, sale and repair industry.

Energy Kiosk - A Definition:

An Energy Kiosk is a shop, where one can buy electricity in the off-grid villages of Kenya, and it may be for battery recharging for the newly introduced LED lamps, mobile phones, or automobiles, or for running tiny or small industries, agro or food processing appliances, or micro or small enterprises, or to run community centres, or to power nearby local schools by extending lines from the Kiosk, or any other small power applications. The Kiosk receives electricity from a local renewable energy source such as a micro hydro power unit, solar, wind or biomass based power generator or a DG set running on locally available vegetable oils.