Nairobi — Slum dwellers may no longer have to rely on illegally connected electricity to light up their homes, thanks to an innovative concept by a Kenyan engineer.

The concept is in the form of an energy storage device that can be recharged by solar energy, mechanical cranking or mains electricity.

Besides providing lighting, the device can power radios and recharge mobile phones, saving thousands of Kenyans who are yet to enjoy the benefits of electricity the inconvenience of travelling long distances to charge their phones.

Christened

Just a week ago, Mr Charles Rioba, the man behind this innovation, was in Accra, Ghana, to receive an award for his invention, a powerpack christened "kodesha mwangaza".

The award comes with a $200,000 grant from the World Bank to help turn the idea into reality.

Mr Rioba's company, Solar World East Africa Ltd, was among 400 African companies that competed in a World Bank-sponsored project to present concepts likely to improve the lives of people in their countries.

Solar World won in the energy category whose theme was "Lighting Africa".

Out of the 400 companies that participated, only 16 were chosen and each will receive a grant to help kick-start their projects.

In an interview with the Saturday Nation, Rioba pointed out that the concept not only creates a new market based on portable electrical energy, but also provides affordable lighting for low-income communities.

"More that 80 per cent of Kenyans, in particular the vulnerable groups living in slums, lack access to mains electricity and depend on fossil fuels for their needs," he said.

Fossil fuels not only lead to respiratory diseases but also emit poor lighting and are sources of destructive and fatal fires. While there are safe alternatives, such as solar energy, only a small fraction of Kenyans can afford this source due to the high cost of installing it.

Another advantage Mr Rioba's powerpacks have is that they can be connected to LED, a low-cost light emitting device which saves about 70 percent of the energy consumed by normal lighting devices. LED lanterns and bulbs will be available either for purchase or on a rental basis. LED lighting is already in use in India where so far, it has enabled around 8,000 homes to switch from kerosene lamps.

This environment-friendly pack will cost about Sh3,000. However, those who cannot afford this need not despair since they will have the option of renting it for a more affordable fee.

"A deposit of about Sh500 to the distributor or agent will allow you to take the pack home. Thereafter, one will only require an average recharge fee of Sh70 a week or twice a week depending on usage," explained Mr Rioba.

Referring to a pilot study the company carried out at the Korogocho slums, Mr Rioba says that the rental approach is attractive because it does not require cash upfront while the initial cost is affordable. "The technology is also user-friendly since one does not have to install any electric wires or alter the household set-up," he says.

Energy rental is not a new concept in Kenya. Gas companies have been using the concept where users purchase the gas cylinder as an initial investment and every time they need a refill, they exchange the empty cylinder for a full one.

Live in the dark

The company plans to partner with 100 local distribution agents and 10 service centres to carry out the technology training and distribution of the powerpacks and expects to reach approximately 10,000 households within 18 months, a number they estimate will rise to 50,000 in four years.

"Every household will be taught how to use the powerpack by agents trained and commissioned by us," Mr Rioba explained.

"Thousands of people across Kenya literally live in the dark. You only need to fly over Nairobi at night to grasp the magnitude of the problem."

Rioba is not a new entrant in the field of renewable energy.

A chemical engineer, he is also a trained renewable energy engineer and has been actively involved in this field for the last 22 years. He is also a lecturer at Kenyatta University's department of energy engineering and also consults in the renewable energy field.