Necessity is the mother of invention; but some stuff is made of pure genius.
Factor this; John Magiro, a Murang'a resident, in partnership with Belgian equity investment company, HydroBox built has built a hydropower plant worth Ksh105.7 million which suppliers power to which now serves over 2,000 households, mostly in the Mt. Kenya region.
In an interview with Africa News, Magiro revealed that the hydroelectric power plant generates electricity by diverting water from a nearby river through a reservoir and subsequently channel the water through a pipeline to spin turbines, and produce power.
The water returns to the river, ensuring environmental preservation.
During the interview, Magiro highlighted that the power plant has the capacity to produce 750 kilowatts of power.
The power is then distributed to various consumers like homes, schools, and businesses.
During droughts or low river levels, solar panels guarantee continuous power . He emphasised that the water stays clean, with all of it returning to the river afterward.
One entrepreneur who sources power from the facility is Steve Maina the CEO of the nearby Kiriti Tea Factory.
In the interview with Africa News, Maina stated that since adopting Hydro Power, he has noticed a significant improvement in output and production quality.
“Previously, power interruptions would compromise tea leaf quality and market prices, but with the stable supply, the factory can ensure consistent quality and maintain its reputation, ” Maina stated.
Other residents also stated that they have benefitted immensely from the plant for various activities such as powering their homes, charging their phones, farming and running their small businesses.
Due to the plant's growth, Hydrobox has received technical and financial backing from various international organisations including; the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), the National Environment Trust Fund (NETFUND), and Belgium's Export Financing Agency (FINEXPO).
Locally, Magiro has received support from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA)
