Imagine life without electricity—where charging a phone means walking several kilometers and paying to stay connected. This was everyday life for families in Kamungi Conservancy, situated along the northern boundary of Tsavo West National Park. Off-grid and underserved, the community relied on expensive, unreliable charging services, further straining already stretched household budgets.
That changed in 2017. Just a week after launching the Kamungi Water Project, Tsavo Trust founding Board Member, Stuart Herd, saw another opportunity to uplift the local community. He donated a solar charging system, which was installed at the community’s central water kiosk.
Since its installation, the system has provided free daily charging for an average of 10 phones, 3 torches, and 3 radios—saving the community members approximately KES 115,200 annually. These savings now go toward essentials like food, school fees, and clothing—directly improving household well-being.
“When mobile phones are charged,” explains Kamungi Conservancy Chairman Dominic Mutua, “community members can receive SMS from Tsavo Trust and Kamungi Conservancy about conservation meetings and activities. They’re also able to report human-wildlife conflict incidents promptly.”
In a 2021 participatory evaluation, 63% of community members rated the solar charging system as either having a high or medium impact. Building on this success, Tsavo Trust expanded access to clean energy—providing home solar solutions to 159 households in Kamungi and Shirango Conservancies. Today, over 1,300 people directly benefit from improved lighting, communication, and security.
Clean energy is transforming lives and strengthening conservation. You can help expand access to sustainable solutions across the greater Tsavo ecosystem. Partner with Tsavo Trust. Donate. Share this story. Be part of the impact.
Photo 1: Tsavo Trust founding Board Member, Stuart Herd, and Kamungi Water Project Attendant, Peninah Wambua, stand beside the solar charging system that continues to power connectivity and conservation efforts in Kamungi Conservancy, June 2025