For a long time now majority of Kenyan homes have not had electricity and as a result most still use kerosene, batteries or candles. These have various disadvantageous risks such as lungs and eyesight damage. 70% of Kenyans still have no televisions and this is where M-kopa comes in. The project to stop the use of kerosene and use the money for solar system began in Eldoret and has been successful. The formal launch took place in M-kopa house, Kilimani today.
M-kopa will be very effective for people who are still incapable of getting information because they have no television. The 16 inch digital television will cost 50 shillings a day for two years then the customer will own the whole package. Kerosene usually costs 50 shillings about every other day for something that will not be permanent and can even burn a house down. It’s very expensive for an average Kenyan to buy kerosene every other day. The solar panel is said to be well built and is manufactured in Naivasha. My wonder was whether the panel will be able to work through any weather, especially because of our constantly different weather.
Mr. Bob Collymore, CEO of Safaricom Ltd said that they have proper panels that are built to survive when it’s cloudy as well.
One great benefit will be for the children that will be in these new well-lit homes. Children sometimes fail their exams because of the lack of light as they struggle with a small lamp. But M-kopa will help these children study and complete their assignments.
This new transformation without a doubt will give majority of Kenyan’s the opportunity to be off the grid and they will also never have to worry about paying for bills. M-kopa has created options that are suitable for everyone’s finance. With the 50 shillings a day up to two years to 125 shillings a day that would be completed in a year’s time. Although most people cannot afford the full package at once, if someone would like to buy it as a gift for someone then it would be arranged with M-kopa solar.
What I mostly liked about it is the fact that once a client purchases their goods it’s a plug and work system. Most systems may be unfriendly to use and tedious. Though their 24/7 customer service promises to be receptive to any client that has inquiries. The leap frog from wire system to solar energy is one that will leave our Kenyan government no choice but to try and either complete their electricity promise as soon as possible or join the solar energy group. Four hours minimum is what it would take for the solar panel to function on the lower side and eight hours when it’s used well. For a longer lasting panel, users will have to manage their phone charging time and other resources that will need the energy.
Take the sun, which are powerful batteries and you have energy. Kenya needs a lot more power that it does. For these impoverished environments such as slums, a wire can easily be cut for different reasons; therefore a stand-alone option is best as opposed to being connected to the grid. “Progression is today”, this is the motto that M-kopa lives by.
