Nyeri County has installed two solar-powered coffee driers at the Chorongi and Thageini Coffee Factories through the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program. This is in an effort to embrace solar energy as a sustainable solution to address the growing impacts of climate change.

These innovative driers are designed to halve the drying time of cherry beans, reduce labor costs, and improve farmers’ profits while maintaining bean quality.

Speaking during his State of the County address, Governor Dr. Mutahi Kahiga highlighted the transformative potential of the solar driers. Unlike traditional methods that rely on electricity or natural sunlight, the new driers operate on energy stored in specialized batteries, ensuring uninterrupted performance regardless of weather conditions or power outages.

“Through Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) two solar driers have been constructed at the Chorongi and Thageini Coffee factories. The two solar driers will enable the coffee factory to reduce the drying time of the cherry beans by 50 percent while at the same time maintaining quality, reducing labour cost and ultimately increasing farmer incomes.” said Dr. Kahiga.

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In addition to advancing solar solutions, the county has prioritized water access and conservation efforts. Under the FLLoCA initiative, a water intake system for the Gatei Water Project in Magutu Ward has been constructed, and seven boreholes have been rehabilitated in areas like Kieni East, Kieni West, and Mathira East. These developments aim to boost water supply for residents and support small-scale irrigation, critical for climate resilience.

Nyeri County has also taken bold steps in reforestation to counteract deforestation and mitigate climate risks. In collaboration with the Upper Tana Nairobi Water Fund Trust and the Kenya Forest Service, over two million trees were planted last year to enhance tree cover and combat worsening climatic patterns.

FLLoCA, a five-year initiative funded by the Government of Kenya, the World Bank, and other donors, seeks to deliver locally-driven climate resilience projects while strengthening the capacity of county and national governments to manage climate risks.