Wajir: Wajir County is set to receive a 6-megawatt solar power facility following the commencement of pre-bidding site visits by the Kenya Power Company (KPC) consultants and prospective contractors. The site visit took place on Wednesday at the Wajir power plant, as part of preparations to strengthen the existing diesel-powered facility with solar photovoltaic (PV) technology.

According to Kenya News Agency, the project is being funded by the Kenyan government through the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, with support from the French Development Bank (AFD), and will be implemented by KPC through EPC contractors. Speaking during the exercise, the County Executive for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmad Wardere, said the project was a key priority for the local leadership. He emphasized that the leadership of Wajir County, led by Governor Ahmed Abdullahi and the Wajir East MP Adan Daud, have been actively following up on the project.

The project is expected to commence within the next three months and is scheduled for completion by December 2026. Wardere noted that the solar plant will add about 6MW to the county's electrical supply, complementing the current 3MW being supplied by the Kenya Power Company. 'The project will be able to support power efficiency within the region, thus impacting positively on the local economy,' he added.

The County Manager, Kenya Power Company, Hassan Isack, stated that the site visit marks a critical stage in the organization's bidding and procurement process. 'This visit is for pre-bidding for the retrofitting of Wajir power plant with solar PV of about 6MW, which will give us reliable power,' he said. 'We are now at the procurement stage, after which we will bring the contractor on board and deliver the project within the agreed timelines,' he added.

Isack mentioned that the project will help address frequent power fluctuations caused by generator failures, hence reducing fuel consumption costs and lowering carbon emissions. He expressed optimism that the project would be completed within 12 months after procurement is concluded, adding that KPC's Nairobi office was working round the clock to fast-track the bidding process.

The County Manager urged residents to remain calm amid the ongoing power rationing, stating that improvements to rectify the situation had already commenced. 'There is light at the end of the tunnel. In a few months' time, this place will be occupied by solar panels,' he reiterated.

This initiative is expected to support industrial growth and economic transformation in the vast Wajir county, resolving longstanding power outages in the region.