Darkness enlightened by hope of solar

The Solar Roller rolled up at our host Bob's house shortly before dusk. We had arrived at this verdant yet extremely remote corner of the Bungoma North district in north west Kenya feeling a little weary. But the warm welcome by Bob and his family and neighbours helped to quickly dissolve away the last seven hours of bumpy dirt roads.

Bob is a true solar advocate. A 150W panel sits proudly on his roof and has done for the last six years. Bob makes a living for himself and supports his extended family by growing maize and sunflowers for oil.

Bob's home, with 150W worth of solar pv on the roof.

Bob's neighbour - a woman named Consulate - speaking little English and (unsurprisingly) not understanding my four words of Swahili, invited me to visit her home and meet her family. In mutual silence, punctuated with laughter and gestures, Consulate led me through several fields in the half light. After scrambling through bushes we finally reached two rounded mud huts with thatched roofs, with a smoking fire outside. I was warmly and proudly invited inside. Consulate hastened to open the small shutter windows to let in what little light remained outside. I was offered the one and only chair while the family sat next to me on the floor. The darkness was piercing. My eyes strained to see my hosts' smiling faces and get a grasp of the layout of their home, which consisted of a main room and an adjoining bedroom. Consulate has seven children and three grandchildren, most of whom live here.

This humbling encounter in absolute darkness was a poignant reminder of why so many millions of similar homes across Africa rely on tin lamps or, if they're lucky, a kerosene lamp, to be able to see anything at all. Consulate's home had neither.

The smokey tin lamp used so widely in homes across Africa. These very basic lamps run off kerosene and have dangerous exposed flames.

As I wandered back to Bob's house I was met with a spectacular sight. Hundreds of fireflies were glowing brightly in the endlessly dark grass. Just as these tiny insects can create such brilliant light in their fight for survival, I felt more certain than ever (having sat in total darkness for the last hour) that a simple solar lamp could help thousands of rural Kenyans improve their day to day lives. A small step, with the potential for a big impact in improving quality of life and livelihoods.