Farmers in Kieni receive solar powered boreholes

Mwangi Gichuki, the chairman of Morisho borehole management committee, explains how the installation has transformed the lives of residents. [Clement Masombo, Standard]

The scorching sun and dusty patches of land are synonymous with parts of the semi-arid Kieni in Nyeri County.

Residents have over the years seen the sun as a nuisance and hindrance to their efforts as they try to grow crops and make ends meet. But the sun has now become a blessing in disguise. This has been made possible by the game-changing idea of using solar power to pump water from some of the existing boreholes in the area.