Kenya Power lighting project to illuminate the city

Kenya Power is upgrading 4,200 street lights within Nairobi from the current high pressure sodium (yellow lights) to light-emitting diodes (LED) to save on energy costs and improve on quality of lighting.

The lighting project is expected to help transform the city centre and its environs into a fully functional 24 hour economy by remedying insecurity caused by poor lighting and visibility at night.

Kenya Power managing director Dr Ben Chumo said that business transactions and productive activities are restricted to daytime hours due to poor lighting at night.

“The government’s goal is to facilitate provision of sustainable, efficient and effective public lighting. We have mobilised technical teams to fast track the rehabilitation of Street light within the CBD,” he said.

Kenya Power in October last year secured a deal with government to install 54,029 street lights in Nairobi’s main commercial and residential areas.

So far, the company has rehabilitated lighting along 275 city streets with another 508 streets and roads currently under implementation.

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“We have just completed installing LED lights on the missing link road connecting Westlands and Ngong Road via Milimani and Hurlingham estates stretching 13.5 kilometres, a project we completed in ten days,” Dr Chumo added.

Nairobi was selected as the first beneficiary in the project that targets all counties due to its contribution to the country's GDP which stands at 55 per cent.

Other roads to be rehabilitated in the city under the Shs953 million government funded project include Ngong Road, Bogani Road to Hardy Estate and Old Garden Estate road.