Nairobi: Kenya's largest hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), is set to expand and green its energy supply with the assistance of the European Investment Bank's development arm, EIB Global, which will provide guidance for the installation of a solar-power system. This initiative aims to address the hospital's growing demand for electricity, enhance its energy independence, and reduce its carbon footprint.
According to Kenya News Agency, EIB Global is partnering with the German Development Agency (GIZ) to offer this support through a grant of 7.3 million Kenyan shillings (approximately £50,000) from the Cities Climate Finance Gap Fund, a multi-donor initiative operated by the World Bank and EIB. The funding will cover technical studies and a financial assessment related to the planned photovoltaic (PV) system at KNH.
As the largest public health center in East Africa, KNH has a capacity of 2,400 beds and serves around 2 million patients annually. The hospital currently faces high grid costs and frequent power outages, which strain its budget and necessitate reliance on diesel generators that only meet about 65 percent of its electricity demand, posing a risk to critically ill patients.
Edward Claessen, Head of the EIB Regional Hub for East Africa, emphasized the bank's commitment to supporting KNH's transition to green energy, stating, "Our goal is a climate-smart future, and we are committed to supporting Kenyatta National Hospital in its transition to green electricity." He also highlighted that forthcoming technical studies would lay the groundwork for the successful implementation of the PV system.
Under the agreement, GIZ experts will conduct technical and financial evaluations to ensure the successful implementation and maintenance of the solar-power system. KNH plans to redirect savings from energy bills to enhance medical supply procurement, staff hiring, and facility upgrades. Dr. Evanson Kamuri, KNH's Chief Executive Officer, expressed gratitude for the support, noting that the collaboration marks a significant step towards sustainable healthcare delivery.
The EIB Global and GIZ support will provide KNH with concrete recommendations to achieve a reliable and efficient power supply through the planned PV system. The studies will analyze current energy-consumption patterns, assess the feasibility of integrating the PV system into the hospital's power grid, offer financial modeling for installation and maintenance, and address regulatory issues.
The European Investment Bank, through the Cities Climate Gap Fund, supports cities in the early stages of project development by assessing challenges, understanding risks, and designing solutions aligned with their climate-smart goals.