Government moves to stop use of solar energy

Mwenda,

Energy and particularly sustainable energy remains a very critical factor
in the recovery of economies post covid19, as well as the development of
the world. This is anchored on the goal 7 of the SDGs.

As we speak of regulation, I recognise that there has been some tremendous
innovation around renewable energy. Solar power has since moved from
unified systems but is modular. In the sense power is generated at the end
use point. Think about IoT Sensors on the farms or the success story MKopa
solar lights that are now powering home-learning village editions. Gaps
that main grid electricity cannot address without additional infrastructure.

Solar systems, installations and backup solutions have been in existence,
looking at the existing regulations and certifications by kebs currently by
KEBS would be a good place to start.

The find that the adoption is moving fast towards plug and play solar
powered devices, eg. CCTV, alarms, radio and mobile chargers, or the solar
powered COVID19 Sanitizing stations. It is because of the same energy costs
and reliability that makes manufacturing of these products and others very
expensive, pushing away investors to neighbouring countries.

Kenya boasts as being one of the leading countries in the world in
production of renewable energy and really lobbied for the adoption of COP21
Agreement in France, Just this year the President made a pronouncement to
have solar energy harvest on a farm in Nakuru to be sold to the main grid.

Creating many bottlenecks for innovation around technical skills compounds
an already bulging problem. That of job creations and skill development.

On Mon, Nov 30, 2020 at 1:41 PM Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet <
[email protected]> wrote:

> Great conversations here.
>
> If we were to engage The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA),
> what would be our recommendations?
>
> We cannot escape regulations on the energy sector. Perhaps a good start
> would be to put less barriers. For example, if I am qualified as a solar
> technician, why punish me with exorbitant licenses instead of supporting me
> to help connect more households and businesses to the grid? The benefits
> for the government where electricity is inexpensive far outway the
> stifling measures EPRA is recommending. Such benefits include less funding
> to the grid by the public, more tax revenue from more industries and
> businesses established, better educated population (electricity is now an
> important component for education), … The spiral effect of affordable
> energy would touch every sector of our economy
>
> I
>
> ______________________
> Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
> www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva
>
>
> On Mon, 30 Nov 2020 at 09:24, Kelvin Kariuki via kictanet <
> [email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I cannot overemphasize what Barrack and Keith have stated above. I teach
>> online classes at a public university and I have observed, together with
>> some colleagues, that we get a slightly less than 50% turnout per session
>> with students claiming challenges ranging from:
>> 1. Lack of Device
>> 2. Lack of Electricity
>> 3. Power Loss
>> 4. Lack of Network/Internet Connection
>>
>> A *sustainable digital economy* can only be powered with *green energy*!
>> With striffling green energy, we will continue to struggle to give life to
>> the futuristic \”*Silicon Savannah*\”!
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 30, 2020 at 6:42 AM Beryl Aidi via kictanet <
>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> This is hardly surprising after Kenya Power recently raised alarm over
>>> the rising switch to solar energy according to this report.
>>> www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/corporate/companies/kenya-power-raises-alarm-over-clients-solar-switch–3204410
>>>
>>> While the growth of the sector is good given the advantages of solar
>>> energy and even the fact that Kenya is right on the Equator so we get a
>>> good amount of solar exposure, some regulation is necessary to ensure
>>> safety standards. However it is appalling that the proposed measures are
>>> stifling and seem geared toward keeping the monopoly of KPLC. It\’s a shame
>>> and really uncalled for, if not absolutely absurd given the inefficiency of
>>> KPLC. The government should be encouraging growth in the energy sector
>>> rather than stifling it.
>>>
>>> Beryl Aidi
>>>
>>> On Sun, Nov 29, 2020 at 10:58 PM Keith Andere via kictanet <
>>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Listers,
>>>>
>>>> I do agree with you Barrack that the time is ripe. During Kenya IGF as
>>>> well as the recently concluded African IGF,
>>>> Unreliable/Expensive/unconnected Electricity at last mile came out as a
>>>> consistent enabler for powering digital inclusion and by extension digital
>>>> transformation.
>>>>
>>>> This therefore, is an opportunity to move forward with speed.
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>> Keith.
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, 29 Nov 2020 at 20:22, Barrack Otieno via kictanet <
>>>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Flipping the coin and looking at the role Solar can play in powering
>>>>> Community Networks, looks like an opportunity is ripe for engaging EPRA,
>>>>> Senate and Parliament. This is a key infrastructure issue that can affect
>>>>> the cost of deploying critical infrastructure @Mwendwa Kivuva
>>>>> <[email protected]>
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sun, 29 Nov 2020, 11:43 am John R. Gicharu via kictanet, <
>>>>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> The chances are that if nobody rigorously campaigns/ lobbies against
>>>>>> these regulations, parliament will pass them as gazzetted by EPRA.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards, John Gicharu
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sunday, November 29, 2020, 08:20:45 AM GMT+3, John Kariuki via
>>>>>> kictanet <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There is no technical or legal Justification for discriminating one
>>>>>> electrical technician from another. The regulations should therefore not be
>>>>>> substantially different from the existing ones. I am not aware of any
>>>>>> university which trains technicians per se. That requirement is therefore
>>>>>> superfluous. Fortunately, regulations these days require approval of
>>>>>> Parliament and these ones should be considered \”dead on arrival\”.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> John Kariuki
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
>>>>>> <go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sun, Nov 29, 2020 at 0:14, Alice Munyua via kictanet
>>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
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>>>>>>
>>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy
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>>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>>>>
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>>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy
>>>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
>>>>>> behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people\’s times and
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>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy
>>>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
>>>>>> behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people\’s times and
>>>>>> bandwidth, share knowledge, don\’t flame or abuse or personalize, respect
>>>>>> privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy
>>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>>>
>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people\’s times and bandwidth,
>>>>> share knowledge, don\’t flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>>>
>>>> —
>>>> Keith Andere
>>>> Tech | Peace & Security | Sustainable Development | AfricaWeWant
>>>> W: wa.me/254722565212
>>>>
>>>> Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail or it\’s
>>>> contents.
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>>
>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people\’s times and bandwidth,
>>>> share knowledge, don\’t flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> —
>>> Beryl
>>> ***********************************************
>>> Beryl Aidi
>>> Campaign and Communication Specialist
>>> Sunnyside Communications
>>> www.sunnysidecommunications.com
>>> Skype: beryl.aidi | Twitter: @thespannergal
>>>
>>>
>>> Remember that sometimes the smallest gesture can change the world.
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>
>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people\’s times and bandwidth,
>>> share knowledge, don\’t flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Warmly,
>>
>> Tr. Karis
>>
>> Twitter Handle: @teacherkaris
>> Alt email: [email protected]
>> Mobile: +2547 29 385 557
>>
>> The Lord is my Shepherd
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people\’s times and bandwidth,
>> share knowledge, don\’t flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>
> _______________________________________________
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> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people\’s times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don\’t flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>