Wider Area Sectoral Proposals

Introduction

The previous sections have considered and proposed climate resilient infrastructure projects which either directly support the proposed value chain opportunities, or further enable the town to respond to immediate needs with regards improvements in traffic and pedestrian circulation, public realm, solid waste management and extensions to the sewage and sanitation network.

This section outlines other proposed infrastructure projects which will assist with issues which are located in the wider hinterland of the town and will promote climate resilient approaches to the introduction of power, irrigation, water and the development of a recycling and waste treatment stream to service the town and it’s wider communities.

Most of these wider area sectoral proposals are aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and climate resilience as well as bringing wider economic opportunities to marginalised communities across the municipal area.

Figure 24 - Plan showing wider area proposals spread across the entire region

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WIDER AREA PROPOSALS

Solar irriga�on and boreholes Rural mini-grid Irriga�on efficiency Formalise waste collec�on and segrega�on

Area considered for wastewater treatment plant Proposed sites for bus sta�on reloca�on

POWER Rural mini-grid

Categorisation: UDP supporting economic growth Linked to: n/a (stand-alone)

Outcome

› Provision of electricity to remote rural locations currently not served by the national grid › Improved life for residents due to improved ability to undertake more advanced economic activity, and improved safety

Sub-components Estimated cost Impacts

› Detailed study of target communities to determine current / potential demand and ability to pay › Financial modelling › Community / stakeholder engagement plan › Selection of proposed project site › Initial technical design, economic, social and environmental analysis › Development of procurement and deployment / implementation plan › Operation plan (including revenue collection, maintenance etc.) › Benchmark:

US$800 - 1,400 per connection › Actual:

Approx.

US$180,000 total based on 3 mini-grids averaging 50 connections per minigrids (at average cost of

US$1,200 per connection) › Funding: From independent mini-grid plant developer(s) / operator(s) › Improved quality of life › Improved study conditions › Improved health and safety › Increase in business activities › Coordination with

Kitui County Government,

Rural Electrification & Renewable Energy

Corporation, and other interested parties including

Kenya Off-grid Solar

Access Project (KOSAP) › Partnering with local / regional equipment specialists such as

Powerhive to determine appropriate technology solutions › Maintenance capacity building programme to ensure continued operation of systems › Maintenance - responsibility of plant developer(s) / operator(s)

Delivery mechanisms Challenges

› Perceived high cost of electricity from minigrids › Regulatory issues around minigrids implementation › Detailed information on underserved communities in Kitui County › Short to mid-term

Data Gaps Time Frame

Case Study: Devergy is an energy services company that provides minigrids solutions to low income people in rural villages. In Mbeya, in western Tanzania, they installed an adaptive direct current solar PV minigrids to serve around 60 households. Customers can pre-pay for affordable energy services in daily, weekly or monthly package at local stored, or via mobile money services such as M-Pesa.

Devergy covers the installation costs except for a small connection fee of between US$6 (KSh 620) and 12, which covers wiring, metering and two bulbs. Customers can also purchase a range of energy efficient DC appliances, including LED lights, TVs, refrigerators and fans. In comparison a traditional grid connection could cost around US$250 (KSh 26,000). Devergy has initially relied upon financial assistance from USAid and other investors, Unlike traditional government minigrids projects, this one is market driven with key innovations around the scalable technology, payment system and operating model. Additionally Devergy maintains a long-term commitment to the village, so they are available to ensure system operation and reliability are maintained. Devergy’s work has demonstrated that minigrids can be both profitable for the operator and affordable for the customer16 .

16 Adaptive solar PV minigrids in Tanzania, accessed 30th July 2019 https://www.usaid.gov/energy/mini-grids/case-studies/tanzania-smart-solar/

POWER Solar irrigation and boreholes

Categorisation: UDP supporting economic growth Linked to: Wider Area Proposal, Water Management, Sustainable Irrigation Outcome

› Improved provision and ability to irrigate crops and provide drinking water to livestock in rural areas currently not served by the electricity grid or by the domestic water supply system › Reduced carbon emissions through replacement of diesel generators

Sub-components Estimated cost (range) Impacts (benefits) Delivery mechanisms

› Mapping of ownership of all agricultural and livestock holdings and current status of their irrigation facilities › Review of abstraction volumes from each borehole › Establishment of needs for solar irrigation and borehole systems › Preparation of design brief for boreholes / irrigation systems › Development of procurement and deployment plan › Maintenance plan › Benchmark:

US$3,000 per system17 › Actual: US$90,000 based on max 30 systems › Funding (eqpt, installation): IFI / donor finance › Lower costs for farmers where current system is on grid › Consistent service provision for farmers with no powered irrigation › Reduced carbon emissions associated with farming sector › Partner with regional / county government to coordinate activities › Partnering with local equipment specialists to determine solutions › Maintenance capacity building programme to ensure continued operation of systems › Maintenance - responsibility of individual farmers

18 Solar Drip Irrigation Case Study - The Valle Family, accessed 29th July 2019 https://gridalternatives.org/sites/default/files/International%20Valle%20irrigation%20case%20study.pdf

Challenges

› Effort needed to obtain comprehensive data on current situation › Funding › No knowledge of current situation › Short to mid-term

Data Gaps Time Frame

Case Study: Grid Alternatives International Program has been helping farmers in Nicaragua with sustainable irrigation solutions for the last five years. One such solution helped the Valle family of Matagalpa. They grew squash, passion fruit and tomatoes on two acres of land to sell at the local market but had trouble making a profit due to high irrigation costs. The monthly electricity bill to run their pump was US$33, but their income was only US$103. Also, the supply quality was poor, meaning they could only irrigate on three days per week instead of every day. Other expenditure reduced their earnings to US$25 a month. Working with Grid Alternatives and local company Suni Solar, they installed a solar irrigation system. The total cost was US$10,000, but Valle family was only asked to pay US$2,000 which they financed via UNAG, their national agricultural organisation. Two solar panels power a pump that abstracts water from a nearby river into a cement tank and to a gravity fed pole mount system that drips onto the plants. With adequate water supply to the plants, they can now irrigate other crops, including onions, pipian and pasturage, and also raise tilapia. Their monthly electricity bill is now US$3, and their monthly earnings have now increased to US$54618 .

WATER MANAGEMENT Sustainable Irrigation

Agriculture is a key sector in Kitui, particularly in rural areas where it is estimated to contribute to around 87% of income. Reliance on agriculture make the population vulerable to water scarcity. Water and infrastructure for irrigation can help populations to become more resilient to changes in weather, it can increase land productivity abd enable the population to grow a more diverse and valuable crops. Sustainable irrigation practices provide a long-term solution for the management of spatially and temporally changing and increasing scarce water resources. Sustainable irrigation practises can be applied to all irrigation related activities to improve food security and achieve higher economical return while limiting the impact the environment. The sustainable irrigation helps to build resilience to droughts, floods, climate change, competition and pollution. Sustainability can be achieved through technical and nontechnical solutions. Technical solution includes selection of right crops and varieties, applying water saving technologies such as drip and sprinkler, greenhouse, hydroponics and automation. Non-technical solutions play equally important role supporting the long-term operation and maintenance of technical solutions. Thus, sustainability must be ensured by appropriate institutional strengthening and capacity building.

Sub-components Estimated cost Estimated opex cost Impacts (benefits) Delivery and funding mechanisms

› Mapping of all agricultural holdings including household gardens › Review of water resources, crop varieties, agricultural practices and market › Planning of suitable agriculture and irrigation system › Preparation of feasibility study and design of project › Procurement and implementation › Preparation of long-term operation and maintenance plan, capacity building and implementation › Drip irrigation: › Approximately

USD 6-7,000 per ha › Solar irrigation:

Approximately

USD 2,500 per system 10% of the capex cost › Increased production or profit per unit of water › Increased food security and surplus income for the farmers › Reduced economic losses for the farmers › Lower costs for farmers currently on grid supply › Consistent power provision › Reduced carbon emissions associated with farming sector › Involving Government / banks / international donor for funding › Partnering with markets for profitable sales › Partnering with drip and sprinkler companies for continuous O&M support › Maintenance / capacity building programme to ensure continued system operation

Challenges

› Data availability on the current situation › Irrigation is a costly affair and so the fund needs are too high › Data on agricultural area › Water resources availability › Market availability › Potential funds availability › Market availability › Medium term

Data Gaps Time Frame

Case Study: Adopted from Malabo Montpellier Panel Report on Water-wise: Smart irrigation strategies for Africa Drip irrigation can improve agricultural yield by up to 100% over conventional irrigation system using 50% less irrigation water. An example from Ghana showed income growth of over 100 percent resulting from use of drip irrigation on onion fields. Since 1996, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) has promoted gravity-fed drip irrigation systems to farmers who were previously watering their crops by hand. Depending on the crop, farmers reported additional income of between KSh 600 - 750,000 with a single bucket kit per person. In 2016, Kenya’s Meru University of Science and Technology developed a “sensor-based automatic irrigation system” app that monitors the need for water in fields and controls irrigation equipment. The app makes use of sensors placed in a field to determine the soil’s moisture. If it is too dry, a control unit uses solar panels to open the valve of a water tank and closes it again when the soil is damp enough. The upfront costs are high - KSh 50,000 per 0.1 ha for a combined app and irrigation system, including solar panels and two drip irrigation lines. The system can be expanded to an additional 0.1 ha for KSh 5,000. The US company SunCulture, based in Nairobi, has been selling solar irrigation kits to Kenyan smallholder farmers since 2013. The SunCulture AgroSolar irrigation system combines the energy efficiency of solar power with the effectiveness of drip irrigation. Solar panels provide the pump’s electricity without the need for batteries or inverters. Water is pumped into a raised water storage tank during the day. During the evening, the irrigation takes place and a valve on the water tank is opened; using gravity, water flows down through a filtration system onto the crop root zones via the irrigation tape. The kit costs KSh 260,000, including the solar pumping system, drip irrigation equipment for 0.4 ha, and training on how to operate the system. According to experience, farmers can increase their yields by up to 300 percent and save over KSh 1million per year compared to using petrol or furrow systems. Case Study: Adopted from Grid Alternatives Solar Drip Irrigation Case Study - The Valle Family Grid Alternatives International Program has been helping farmers in Nicaragua with sustainable irrigation solutions for the last five years. One such solution helped the Valle family of Matagalpa. They grew squash, passion fruit and tomatoes on two acres of land to sell at the local market but had trouble making a profit due to high irrigation costs. The monthly electricity bill to run their pump was US$33, but their income was only US$103. Also, the supply quality was poor, meaning they could only irrigate on three days instead of every day. Other expenditure reduced their earnings to US$25 a month. Working with Grid Alternatives and local company Suni Solar, they installed a solar irrigation system. The total cost was US$10,000, but Valle family was only asked to pay US$2,000 which they financed via UNAG, their national agricultural organisation. Two solar panels power a pump that abstracts water from a nearby river into a cement tank and to a gravity fed pole mount system that drips onto the plants. With adequate water supply to the plants, they can now irrigate other crops, including onions, pipian and pasturage, and also raise tilapia. Their monthly electricity bill is now US$3, and their monthly earnings have now increased to US$546 Source: Solar Drip Irrigation Case Study -

Adopted from Malabo Montpellier Panel Report: ‘Water Wise: Smart irrigation strategies for Africa’ The Valle Family, accessed 29th July 2019 https://gridalternatives.org/sites/default/files/International %20Valle%20irrigation%20case%20study.pdf

WASTE MANAGEMENT Solid waste infrastructure improvements - formalise waste collection and segregation

Formalising and integrating the role of the informal sector into Kitui Town’s waste management system. Introducing source segregation in households and commercial establishments. Encouraging Community Based Organisations (such as the Kitui Taka Youth Group) to form operational partnerships with private or public waste collectors. › Identifying roles in waste management › Maintain dialogue and interaction › Maintaining employment Develop and implement a smart app / text message system to facilitate town-wide waste collection and segregation.

Sub-components Estimated cost Impacts

› Formalising the

Informal Waste

Collection

Services › KSh 5-10m › KSh 5m to develop and implement smart app for waste town-wide collection › Funding: IFI /

Donor Finance › Reduced wild dumping of waste and improved sanitation › Provides an increased level of service and engages community and private sector › Improves sanitation and flood and surface water management ability › Formal employment for waste pickers with adequate wages and health and safety training › Involvement of waste picker organisations to provide support and supervision › Better working conditions for waste sorters › More efficient segregation of recyclables › Higher quality materials which can be sold to recycling brokers › Improved understanding of waste collection and collection days, etc › Introduction of

Private Public

Partnership (PPP) into waste collection effort › Support from

NGOs, community groups, waste pickers (e.g. Kitui Taka

Youth Group) › Employment and training by Kitui

Municipality or private entity /

CBOs › Funding for PPE, collection carts, training and wages for the CBOs, etc › Maintenance responsibility of

Municipal Government

Delivery mechanisms Challenges

› Non-biodegradable waste is left on the streets as litter › No formal recycling in place › Lack of health and safety systems in place for collecting and sorting waste by informal sector (waste pickers) › Not all residents have smart phones › Provide adequate training and support systems › Convert existing infrastructure › Launch public awareness campaign › Short-term / Ongoing

Data Gaps Time Frame

Case Study: Developing an Integrated Waste Management System15 - Kampala, Uganda In Kampala, Uganda, the development of an integrated waste system was prompted by the lack of formalisation in the waste sector. Much of the waste was disposed informally by dumping, burning or burying. Only 55% of the city’s solid waste was officially collected and transported to the city’s landfill by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). Several standalone Community Based Organisations (CBO) existed offering financial incentives to informal settlements for the collection of recyclable materials, however, the KCCA were not aware of many of these organisations. The KCCA developed a new Kampala City Integrated Waste Management System to improve the collection, transportation and treatment of the city’s waste and incorporate the informal sector (predominately the landfill pickers and CBOs) as part of an integrated approach across the waste management value chain.

As a result of the Integrated Waste Management System, a strategy was developed to identify, inform and consult stakeholders; clear objectives and measurable targets for education and knowledge sharing were created; activities were undertaken to educate waste pickers; a new contract was developed to ensure that new landfill operators would formally integrate registered waste pickers; and CBOs were encouraged to form partnerships with the KCCA in order make the System more integrated.

15 Waste Pickers Alliance, Uganda