She adds that the solar technology has satisfied her energy needs -for lighting my
kitchen, bedroom, security light and sitting room. She also uses it for her radio and
television set. She observes: "SCODE has done a wonderful job - they have educated
me through workshops on how the system works and also- how to maintain it and in
turn I have educated my whole household".
The Gakunyi household
Mr and Mrs Gakunyi are farmers and parents of five children. Mr Gakunyi says: "I first
heard about solar energy when living in Timboroa but was not impressed by it because
the person using it always experienced blackouts. 1 had also told my wife that people
were now using electricity from the sun but she didn't believe me - she thought 1 was
making up stories to entertain her."
It was expensive, unsafe
because the children
knocked over the lamps and
Later they moved to Bahati in Nakuru and became
members of the Kumenya Self-Help Group where
he's the vice- secretary.
we also had to keep taking
the battery for the TV for
recharging.
Early in 2000, the chairman of his group informed
him that SCODE was conducting a solar energy
project. After attending one of their meetings, he was
convinced that it worked and decided, together with his wife, to buy a solar kit. After
selling bags of maize, they got enough money to buy a 20-watt system.
Mrs. Gakunyi says that before solar, they used kerosene for lighting and batteries for
the TV and radio. She observes: "It was expensive, unsafe because the children
knocked over the lamps and we also had to keep taking the battery for the TV for
recharging. Our lives have completely changed since we started using solar. We have
bright lights in the kitchen, sitting room and in the bedrooms. The system is safe
because the children can't play with the lights or battery. The radio and TV are
protected because of the charge regulator and we don't have to take the battery to be
re-charged. We have fewer expenses unlike when we used kerosene and batteries and
we don't make monthly payments like those who use grid electricity. Because I am at
home most of the time, I'm able to play my favorite music cassettes and sometimes
watch TV during the day."
Moreover, many people are always curious about their solar system. Mr. Gakunyi
relates a story of how a neighbor asked him why his house was always so bright at
night and he told her about solar energy. She was very impressed but her main worry
was incurring monthly bills like those who used grid electricity. But he assured her
that this wouldn't happen so she is now planning to install solar energy in her home.