Salvation Army (S.A.) Kolanya Boys High School in Teso North Sub-County in Busia County has significantly reduced its electricity costs after installing a solar power system in November last year.
The school’s Principal, Jackton Indimuli, said the institution had been paying more than Sh300,000 per month in electricity bills before the installation of the solar system. The monthly bill has since dropped to about Sh35,000.
He said the savings have enabled the school, with a population of 1718 learners, to channel more resources to other development and learning activities.
Indimuli was speaking to the media during the school’s 80th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the unveiling of a new 67-seater Scania school bus on Thursday.
He noted that the solar power project was among the key milestones the school was celebrating during the AGM.
The adoption of solar power by Kolanya Boys High School reflects a growing trend among learning institutions seeking to reduce electricity costs through renewable energy.
The Principal Administrative Officer in the Office of the President, Arthur Osiya, said schools with large student populations need to adopt cost-effective solutions since they use a lot of power.
Speaking at the school during the AGM, Osiya said that through the Evans Osiya Foundation, they are supporting schools to install solar power systems to reduce electricity costs.
He noted they have so far provided complete solar power lighting systems to 15 schools in Teso North, with each installation costing about Sh1 million.
“I have also installed solar-powered lighting in about 15 markets in Teso North to enable traders to extend their business hours, as many were previously closing early due to darkness,” he said.
Osiya noted that Teso North receives abundant sunshine throughout the year, making solar energy an effective and reliable source of power.
He added that schools that have installed solar power systems have significantly reduced their electricity expenses and cleared outstanding power bills, with some now paying as little as Sh3,000 per month.
“We also want to ensure a reliable power supply. In schools where we have installed solar systems, students are able to study early in the morning and remain in school a little longer in the evening because the solar power system is stable,” he said.
By Moses Wekesa
