Kenya: #3xRenewables for Energy Independence and Food Security
When Life is Tied to the Ocean
A coastal community in Ukunda, Kwale County, Kenya, relies on the sea for their livelihoods. Fishermen, restaurant owners and fish sellers depend on the daily catch to conduct their businesses.
Unfortunately, the sea is no longer as giving as it used to be many years ago.
Rough Sea is a Threat to Livelihoods
Climate change has made the sea and fishing conditions more unpredictable than ever.
On days when the waves are too high and the winds are too strong the fishermen must stay ashore. They cannot supply fresh fish to the sellers to offer for the community and businesses. The restaurants find their stock empty and must rely only on the stored produce.
Preserving the Catch Means Sustaining Income
To keep the steady supply despite frequent weather interruptions, the fishing community needs to store their catch for longer periods of time. Cold storage becomes essential to keep today's catch for tomorrow's market.
Yet without reliable electricity, fish sellers and restaurant owners struggle to keep their coolers running, losing both product and income.
Solar Power Brings Hope
When blackouts occur—which is common in the area—the community faces income loss.
“Whenever electricity would go off, we would be forced to look for areas that have electricity and move our seafood stock there, which was costly,” says Mwanasha Mwachalika, a small business owner.
Everything changed when the community installed solar panels, securing steady, reliable power for their equipment, including the much-needed cold storage.
Reliable Power, More Catch to Store
“Now we have solar power, and we can store our fish without it going bad,” says Elvis Bidii, a fisherman.
With solar PV powering the cold storage around the clock, fishermen, fish traders, and restaurants no longer face fresh supply challenge. Renewables are the solution, sustaining their incomes and protecting their livelihoods.
“With solar power, we are moving in the right direction”
Since switching to using solar power, the community's daily life has improved. The clean energy is affordable, reliable, readily available and better for the environment.
“As a fisherman, I am grateful for solar power, " says one fisherman, Jeremiah Mtungi. "We can dry and store our fish without electricity access issues. We are moving in the right direction.”
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