Today's Headlines
- Lessons and Implications of the Confirmation of Charges Against Kenya's 'Ocampo Four'
- Finance Minister Quits Over ICC Charges
- Shortage of HIV Test Kits Raises Concerns
- Living On the Edge in Turkana Region
- Ali Breaks Silence, Describes Delight At Acquittal
- Uhuru, Ruto Eligible for Presidency - CIC
- Tea Sector Posts Record Earnings in 2011
- Resettle IDPs, Urges Annan
- Uhuru, Muthaura Have Done the Right Thing
- All Displaced People Should Return Home
- Concern Raised As Parents Shun Schools in Poll Violence Hotspots
- Ruling On IEBC Hiring in February
- Country Working Towards Conditions Needed for Direct Flights to U.S.
- How ICC Claimed Kibaki's Lieutenants
- Geothermal Project to Receive Sh10 Billion Funding Boost
- Five Million to Get IDs Before Elections
- Speed Up Building Port
- Uhuru and Muthaura Did Well to Quit Posts
- A Full Plate Awaits Githae
- Clashes Continue in Moyale
- Baraza Case to Be Heard Monday
- Two Firms in Joint Venture to Drill for Oil Near Lodwar
- Exit Uhuru, Muthaura
- ICC Charges Hound Uhuru Out of Treasury
- Consumers Grow Despite Inflation
- Poor Relations Between Banks Blamed for Cash Shortages
- Fish Prices Up As Vegetable Supply Dwindles
- Consumers to Pay More for Milk and Bread As Prices Rise
- Kibaki Tasks Ex-Dar CJ to Lead Probe in Kenya
- Mombasa Port Cargo Congestion Forces Three-Month Fees Waiver
Ken Kihara
25 July 2010
Nairobi — As I welcome the new government regulation on building policy being driven by the Ministry of Energy directing that people building residential or commercial houses in major towns should instal solar water heating systems, I would like to challenge the government further.
To bring the point home, I would challenge President Kibaki to instal solar panels at State House by October this year and lead from the front whilst sending strong message that all Kenyans need to embrace the "green economy".
October 10 is the "Global Work Day Party" - a day when communities all over the world will be installing clean energy devices and celebrating climate solutions.
By keeping the focus on 10/10/10, we can make it clear that communities all over the world are getting to work building the clean energy economy - and we need our political leaders to join us in this effort.
This campaign is being organised by a body known as 350.org. The idea is to get world leaders involved. Each one has a roof over his or her head - in India, they call it the Rashtrapati Bhavan; in Mexico, Los Pinos, and in Washington it's the White House.
Those solar panels won't be enough to solve climate problems, obviously. But they will send a strong symbolic message about what the future demands, and maybe our leaders will see how easy it is to start down a greener path.
If they hammer in a solar panel, perhaps they'll feel more committed to hammering out some more clean energy legislation. Climate change is now widely recognised as the major environmental problem facing the globe.
Ironically, Africa which is least responsible for producing "greenhouse gases" that are greatly responsible for climate change, is going to suffer most from the effects. Climate change is a major threat to sustainable growth and development, not to mention Vision 2030.
Kenya and Africa have a genuine need to increase and diversify their energy needs, and the time to act is now.
Good news already! Just as the campaign is being launched, President Mohammed Nasheed of the Maldives confirmed he'll be up on his roof on 10/10/10, installing a solar array. Who's next? Over to you President Kibaki.
Mr Kihara is a consultant with Interchange (K) Ltd, a company specialising in renewable energy and eco-friendly products and services. (ken@interchangeafrica.com)
