Ruto Launches Ksh45 Billion Upgrade Project For 3,000 Schools
President William Ruto has announced the commencement of a Ksh45 billion solar project that will be implemented across the country in an effort to provide access to renewable energy and combat climate change.
Speaking at the Alliance Boys High School’s 100th anniversary celebration on Sunday, March 1, the president stated that the project will assist over 3000 schools around the country.
President Ruto stated that the initiative will be critical in ensuring that all schools in the country have access to clean energy for cooking, lighting, and other energy requirements.
“I have come here to launch a very significant and consequential project,” Ruto stated.
“As you all know, I’m championing matters to do with climate change, and we are deliberately beginning to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce our biomass.”
We are transforming Kiambu County through deliberate development programmes and projects, including KSh43 billion for the construction of 17,000 affordable housing units, 30 modern markets and 8,000-bed hostels in the county.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) March 1, 2026
We are also spending KSh18 billion to build roads in… pic.twitter.com/dcRtnBwJFq
“And today here at Alliance, we are launching a Ksh45 billion programme to solarise 3000 schools and enable them to stop cutting trees and use solar,” he added.
“This programme is being undertaken by the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Education, and in partnership with other partners in the banking sector.”
The project’s trial phase was carried out at over 200 schools, and it is planned to extend to more institutions over the following year.
Ruto estimates that the project will create 780 megawatts of energy.
Also launched the Solarisation Programme for Basic Education Institutions that will reduce the cost of energy in our schools, expand access to clean and reliable power, and unlock the potential to generate up to 150 megawatts of solar energy.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) March 1, 2026
This transformative project, whose… pic.twitter.com/gyDpfm7dOW
“Many people were asking what will happen to that power when schools are not in session, and my instruction to the Ministry of Energy is that you buy that energy even if it’s on a discount so that the schools get resources to develop other infrastructures,” the president has said.
The statement comes as institutions around the country boost efforts to move from traditional energy sources to considerably cleaner options that are also considered cost-effective.
Earlier this year, Cooperative University reported that the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority had approved the Ksh6.45 billion Solar Plant Project.
The initiative, announced by university Chancellor Benard William Chitunga on Friday, January 16, would generate 40 megawatts of electricity for the national grid.
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This would make it the first university in the country to supply power on such a large scale.
Chitunga said that the project will be implemented in partnership with Dahai Shandong company, from China.
The company will finance, construct, and run the solar power plant for an agreed period before handing it over to the university.
“We are doing operational innovative financing where we are getting a partner, Dahai Shandong China,” Chitunga said.
Ruto Launches Ksh45 Billion Upgrade Project For 3,000 Schools
