As the morning light spreads across Wahambla village in Homa Bay County, the day starts not with the soft rustling of leaves or birds singin...
As the morning light spreads across Wahambla village in Homa Bay County, the day starts not with the soft rustling of leaves or birds singing, but with the sound of diesel pumps as farmers begin to water their crops. These machines have long been essential for small-scale farmers who depend on River Rang’wena to keep their farms productive during the intense heat. Without them, the vegetables that support the population of Homa Bay Town — including over 7,000 students at Tom Mboya University — would quickly dry up. The village plays a vital role in ensuring food security in the region, providing a consistent supply of kales, spinach, coriander, and other vegetables that keep households and campus cafeterias running. The demand for continuous production is constant, and with unpredictable rainfall and rising temperatures, farmers have little option but to rely on the river. Read: How drones can revolutionize food production systems However, the very machines that sustain the county also bring noise, pollution, health risks, and increasing costs that burden those who use them. For farmers like Kennedy Okhuta, the early morning routine is familiar. He has used a diesel pump on his one-acre farm for eight years, and each dry day follows the same pattern: moving the pipes from his home to the riverbank, wading into the water to attach the suction inlet, starting the engine, and then directing the water to his crops. “All the work requires energy,” Mr. Okhuta says. “I have to carry the pipes from home, connect them, irrigate, and then take everything back.” Fuel alone costs him at least Sh2,000 per session — a significant expense for a smallholder whose profits fluctuate with market demand and weather conditions. In addition to that are maintenance costs. A diesel pump, he explains, "is like a car"; its moving parts wear out and require monthly servicing. Maintenance, replacement parts, and engine oil — which costs about Sh400 per month — can push his recurring expenses up to Sh3,500. But cost is just one part of the problem. Farmers in Wahambla also face the effects of noise pollution as dozens of pumps roar to life simultaneously, transforming the quiet riverside into an industrial area. Some machines emit thick black smoke that lingers over the fields, raising concerns about long-term respiratory issues. The river itself presents another danger that many farmers cannot avoid. To set up the pumps, farmers must step directly into the water, exposing themselves to Bilharzia — a parasitic disease spread by freshwater snails. Transmission occurs when larvae penetrate the skin and later develop into parasites, which can damage organs and cause chronic complications. Rising fuel prices In September, researchers from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri), in collaboration with Israeli scientists, identified River Rang’wena as a high-risk area for Bilharzia transmission. According to Dr. Geoffrey Maina, a senior lab analyst at Kemri, people living along rivers and wetlands are particularly vulnerable, especially when wading in contaminated water. He warns that donor funding for praziquantel — the primary drug used to treat Bilharzia — is decreasing, raising concerns about access to treatment for at-risk communities. Mr. Okhuta understands the risks but has little choice. “I have heard stories about the disease, but I have never contracted it,” he says. “Maybe others are affected, but because it is a neglected tropical disease, no one comes out to say they have it.” Mr. Evance Mboya, another farmer who relies on diesel pumps, echoes the frustration. Over the years, various companies and organizations have tried to introduce cleaner, safer irrigation technologies, but farmers have been skeptical. “Some of us are ready to change,” he says. “But then you hear stories about systems that failed elsewhere, and you lose confidence.” Despite the reluctance, farmers agree that diesel irrigation is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Rising fuel prices, unpredictable weather, and growing health concerns are pushing many to consider alternatives — a shift that is already changing farming practices in parts of the country. More than 500 kilometers away, in Gachuriri village in Mbeere South, Embu County, farmers have taken a different approach. Here, solar-powered irrigation has become established, helping farmers reduce fuel costs, increase yields, and minimize exposure to waterborne diseases. One of the farmers leading this transition is Mr. Stephen Mutua. After five years working for an agricultural company, he returned home to farm full-time. Initially, he used diesel pumps like his counterparts in Homa Bay, but rising fuel prices and frequent breakdowns pushed him to explore cleaner alternatives. He switched to solar irrigation in 2024 — a move he says transformed his farming business. “I realized diesel was becoming too expensive,” he says. “Maintenance was also a burden, and I saw other farmers suffer from Bilharzia when using river water.” With solar, his irrigation cost dropped to about Sh2,000 per acre during dry seasons, and his profits increased significantly. Many of his neighbors followed his example. Mr. Mutua and other farmers in Gachuriri have been supported by Saw Precise, a company founded by two entrepreneurs — Linda Kamau and Pius Musyoka. The firm operates mobile solar-powered irrigation units known as “sun riders.” Their idea emerged after they noticed vast tracts of fertile land lying idle as farmers waited for rain. They realized that with access to a reliable water source — River Thiba — and clean energy, year-round production was possible. “We pitched for funding and managed to set up the first units,” Linda says. Trials were conducted on several farms before the technology was rolled out commercially in 2024. Today, the company has 15 bifacial solar panels per unit, each capable of producing up to 615 watts. Combined, they generate more than 9,000 watts — enough to run a 4,000-watt submersible pump that draws water from the river to the farms. Farmers do not operate the systems themselves. The company handles installation, irrigation, and maintenance. Customers pay Sh2,000 per acre irrigated, freeing their time for other activities. “It gives farmers time to focus on more tasks,” Linda says. “Our goal is to reduce carbon emissions, protect farmers' health, and support sustainable agriculture.” Saw Precise currently serves 150 farmers, with more than 500 others on the waiting list. Experts say the shift to solar is not just an economic choice — it is an environmental necessity. Dr. Erick Ronoh, a lecturer in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), says solar energy reduces greenhouse gases, boosts productivity, and supports long-term food security. “Rain-fed agriculture can no longer sustain farmers in the era of climate change,” he says. “We must adopt new technologies, and solar is top of that list.” Solar energy can power irrigation, egg incubation, food processing, milling, and drying. Foods dried using solar, Dr. Ronoh adds, are more hygienic. However, adoption remains low, with only about 4 percent of Kenya’s farmland using solar technologies. Barriers include high initial costs, limited technical knowledge, maintenance concerns, and lack of trusted suppliers. Read: Information science graduate is reaping millions from tray seedlings Dr. Ronoh warns that Africa has increasingly become a destination for substandard electronics, including ineffective solar panels that do not meet industry standards. He advises farmers to conduct thorough research before buying panels and to ensure correct installation, including maintaining the optimal panel angle of 10 to 15 degrees. He emphasizes the need for regular inspections, cleaning, protective barriers against theft, and advanced coating to maximize efficiency. Kenya Climate Change Working Group Chairperson John Kioli shares these concerns. He urges agencies like the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) to strengthen monitoring to prevent unscrupulous traders from importing defective panels. “A lot of substandard goods enter the country,” he says. “If we don’t act, ineffective solar panels will flood the market and hurt farmers who are trying to embrace clean energy.” Back in Wahambla, most farmers are still tied to diesel pumps, unable or unwilling to make the transition until they see tangible proof of long-term benefits. Yet with the health risks increasing, fuel costs climbing, and climate variability growing, the shift toward cleaner energy feels inevitable. Farmers like Okhuta and Mboya acknowledge that change is needed. What they lack is support — financial, technical, and educational — to make the transition possible. For now, the river continues to sustain them, even as it exposes them to risks and costs they can scarcely afford. But as examples from Embu show, with the right investment and trust, rural farmers can pivot to cleaner, safer, and more sustainable ways of working. Solar-powered irrigation may not yet be the norm, but it is fast becoming a necessity in a country where climate change is reshaping the future of farming — and where communities along rivers like Rang’wena must choose between tradition and transformation.georgeodiwuor04@gmail.com
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