Speaking in early 2025, thirty-three-year-old Everlyne says, “I started this business in 2014. My village, Kapua, has just received its electricity connection two weeks ago!” The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) is supporting KUDURA’s ambitious roll out of twenty-two solar-battery mini grids across Turkana County.
Reflecting on life before the mini grid, Everlyne says, “I bought a freezer two years ago to start selling cold drinks, however, the small solar system I was using had too little power and so I just kept it as I waited for electricity to arrive in the village… It was frustrating, as I wanted to sell cold drinks, and many customers come asking for them, but I ended up losing them to the nearby village that has power. Not many people like drinking warm drinks.”
Everlyne says, “In this hot weather, I use the power for cooling, for charging my customers’ electronic devices, and for lighting my shop. I am already getting more customers because of the cold drinks. I also feel more secure because of the solar external lights, and I get more business because people can see that my shop is open in the evening.”
For the residents of Kapua, Everlyne envisages socioeconomic change as a result of electricity access, “There will be more business, which means more money, more kids in school for education, and improved living standards. There will be no more going to Lodwar for everything. There will be better hospital service provision, and we even expect more people to migrate into our community, which is good for business.”
For herself, Everlyne says, “I want to expand my business to include a bookshop, a cybercafé, and also carpentry, all things that I can use electricity for.”
