What You Need to Know
The National Treasury of Kenya has approved a Ksh3.45 billion project to develop a solar power plant and street lighting system in Eldoret. This initiative aims to enhance public safety and energy efficiency by transitioning to renewable energy, with plans for new LED streetlights and a battery storage system to ensure reliable lighting.
Africa-Press – Kenya. The National Treasury has approved the Ksh 3.45 billion Eldoret Power Plant and solar-powered street lighting project.
The approval, done as of April 10, now allows the project to proceed to contract negotiations under the public-private partnership (PPP) model to mark a major step towards modernising Kenya’s youngest city.
The project aims to transition Eldoret City’s public lighting network to renewable energy while improving reliability, safety, and energy efficiency across key public spaces.
Approval followed a series of intense approval stages, with the project’s Project Information Pack (PIP) receiving initial approval in November 2025, allowing it to advance to a Project Investment Feasibility Study.
According to project details, the initiative will involve the development of a 3MWac solar photovoltaic power plant integrated with a 9MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which will power street lighting and selected municipal facilities independent of the national grid and will ensure consistent lighting even in times of outages.
The plan also includes conversion of existing grid-connected street lights to solar power, installation of approximately 12,000 new LED streetlights and 90 high-mast towers, and refurbishment of 2,271 non-functional lights across the municipality.
Key municipal buildings, traffic lights, parks, and other public amenities will also be connected to the new renewable energy system.
The project will do away with standard bulbs, going for a new technological lighting system with adaptive LED streetlights that will be equipped with integrated CCTV cameras that feature facial recognition and smart controls.
The system will also be supported by a comprehensive underground fibre-optic network, enabling real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, designed to make Eldoret not only brighter but also more connected and secure.
The lighting project comes nearly 2 years after Eldoret was elevated to a city, becoming the fifth city in Kenya, following Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru.
According to Uasin Gishu County Government, the impact is expected to be immediate and profound, as the project is aimed at making Eldoret City a 24-hour economy with brighter streets projected to deter crime, enhance public safety, and extend business operating hours well into the night.
“Eldoret City is positioning itself to match the standards of modern cities in developed nations, where innovation, safety, and sustainability drive urban growth by delivering a project of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa,” stated Silas Leting, the Project Coordinator.
Eldoret was recently elevated to city status, becoming Kenya’s fifth city. This solar power and street lighting project represents a significant step towards modernizing the city and improving public safety. The initiative aligns with Kenya’s broader goals of enhancing urban infrastructure and promoting sustainable energy solutions, particularly in rapidly growing urban areas like Eldoret. The project is expected to foster a 24-hour economy by improving lighting and safety in public spaces, thereby encouraging business activities at night.
