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| John Magiro is the brains behind the Magiro power plant in Murang’a. |
Kenya’s electricity access has increased over the last two decades, reaching almost three-quarters of the population. John Magiro is the brains behind the Magiro power plant in Murang’a. What’s Kenya’s electricity access? Why John Magiro built a power plant How bicycle dynamo inspired John Magiro How John Magiro raised funds for his power plant How many customers does the Magiro project serve? What is KPLC’s customer base? + View more What’s Kenya’s electricity access? According to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Kenya has made significant progress toward expanding access to power. “Regarding electricity access, the rate of connectivity stands at 76.49%, making the country one of the global leaders in increasing electrification,” EPRA stated. However, despite the efforts made by the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), electricity connection remains a perennial problem, especially in rural areas. Why John Magiro built a power plant That’s why John Magiro Wangari, a Form Four leaver who scored D- in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), resorted to building his power plant to connect rural households in Murang’a county. Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, the 30-year-old said he was supporting KPLC, the country’s sole electricity distributor. Thanks to his inventiveness, he supplies electricity to his community in Mathioya. He battled against all odds to see his effort influence people’s lives in the Mathioya constituency. “I am the founder of the Magiro mini hydroelectric project on River Gondo in Murang’a county.” Magiro desired to learn about power connection from a tender age, and when he wanted to fulfil his dream, most people mistook him for a madman. “When I started my project, many suggested I see a psychiatrist because this kid is in high school, but instead of concentrating on his school work, all he cares about is power connections,” he said. Subscribe to watch new videos How bicycle dynamo inspired John Magiro According to Jane Murira, his principal at Mihuti Secondary School, he was not gifted academically but was active in other day-to-day activities. “He was a talented boy. In terms of academics – not able because if you tell Magiro to write, he won’t be able to write. If you tell him to read it’s an issue, but tell him to give you power, and he will give you using the dynamo,” Murira explained. The innovator was motivated by how the bicycle dynamo works by producing electricity through electromagnetic induction. How John Magiro raised funds for his power plant As he comes from a humble background, Magiro sold his rabbits and Napier grass to start the project. “We were very poor when we were young. It was really hard to get KSh 50. I made little savings from selling napier grass, rabbits and a goat I was rearing to buy my first alternator,” he revealed. Pulse Live reported that the government and private investors funded Magiro to the tune of KSh 105 million to develop his idea into a functioning hydropower facility. How many customers does the Magiro project serve? The power plant serves 1,000 off-grid clients as of January 2024 and targets to reach 5,000 households by 2027. By leveraging run-of-the-river technology, the company generates energy without requiring large infrastructural expenditures or creating major environmental harm. This technique uses turbines and the kinetic energy of flowing water to produce mechanical energy that is then transformed into electrical energy.
by Kai Eli