Time for ‘city in the sun’ to switch on green

Mr Odinga took to the rostrum, gave the audience a potted history of Kenyan politics from independence to the present day and, among other declarations of the intent to fulfil Vision 2030, he announced the government’s ambitions to develop alternative energy sources — geothermal, solar and wind were mentioned.

Nuclear was not one of them, much to my relief, given our record of disaster preparedness.

Visual pollutants

Which brings me to the giant advertising billboards that are to be found up and down the length and breadth of Kenyan highways and byways. In Belgium they would qualify as visual pollutants and a distraction to drivers.

In Kenya, we are not there yet, but perhaps a new partnership between KenGen and the advertising industry could do for them what Esther Passaris did for street light advertising — propped up by wind turbines dotted on wind farms all around Nairobi County, the billboards would justify their existence and earn their keep.

That way, the next time I bring my upcountry nephews into town, we can book a table at the revolving restaurant at the very top of the KICC — it is soon to be re-opened after remaining closed for over two decades — and, binoculars in hand, behold the “Green City in the Sun” elegantly and sedately producing squeaky-clean electricity for her residents as we tuck into our burgers, steaks and Belgian fries. One dreams.

Ms Guchu is a Kenyan residing in Brussels. bettyguchu@gmail.com