Benedatta: A journey for energy independence
At 27, Benedatta Musembi prides herself in making wise decisions for her young Kenyan family, a 5-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl, and she wants nothing but the best for them. Her husband Willis, 33, is a driver in Mombasa and only travels to their rural home in Kwanzili, Kitui County on occasion.
In 2018, Benedatta was feeling her health decline. Like many rural households, her home didn’t have electricity and they relied on kerosene lamps for lighting. Itchy eyes, coughing, disturbed sleep and headaches were everyday side-effects, but that was just the way of it.
Without energy in her own home, Benedatta had to rely on others around her. “Everything I needed to do I had to get outside. My phone was charged by my neighbour Alice and I only listened to radio when I was with her. I couldn’t do anything like that in my own house.”
One evening when taking her phone to be charged, Benedatta asked Alice to show her the solar system which she had heard so much about. “She had lamps in every room! Every room was bright. Her children played with the torch outside, we listened to the radio whilst she was charging my phone in the main room. We did everything inside the house, and it was so different.”
Benedatta knew that with this Azuri solar home system she would never have to rely on her neighbours or use the kiosk in the nearest town again. Soon after, an Azuri agent visited Benedatta to consult her on where she could set up the lights in her home for maximum impact, and how the benefits could change her day-to-day life. The affordable weekly payments worked well with Benedatta’s husband’s income and they decided to install the system right away.
Life for the Musembi family transformed instantly. Benedatta’s and her children’s health has improved and they all feel more secure at night with the lights on in the home. Benedatta loves listening to the radio all day and not having to leave her house to charge her phone any more. “I am independent! I can do everything from my home. It makes me feel proud and fulfilled to provide energy in my home.” Within two years, the Musembi family completed their payments and now own their solar system outright for themselves, generating free power and saving money.
Straight away, however, Benedatta’s sights were set on the new AzuriTV, TV400. With a 32” LED screen which can run for up to 10 hours, 2 newly designed tube lights to spread light far as well as 2 spot lights for focus and another torch and radio, Benedatta couldn’t wait to get signed up with her local Azuri Agent.
“The children have over 60 channels now, and they need them for education! Since COVID shut their schools we need to educate from home. Now they have the EDU channels, they have their own radio, and we can give them space and light to work. Azuri has been a huge change for us and it was just in time”. Benedetta gets to listen to her radio throughout the day whilst she does her housekeeping and relaxes watching her favourite shows on Bongo Swahili.
Benedatta and her family are thriving with solar power energy access. When her husband Willis is around, he enjoys the animal programs on NatGeo and catches up on local news on channels Citizen and NTV. Benedatta enjoys hosting the gatherings of her local women’s group in her home because she has the lighting and entertainment to keep everyone happy. “I am no longer unconnected. I am energy independent, my children can spread out and enjoy themselves, and I feel I can support them well. Solar has changed everything for the better.”