Emmanuel Murunga is the brains behind a new innovation where sitting shades in some parts of the city are fitted with solar panels and turned into charging booths.
Murunga is the Chief Executive Officer of the initiative making waves in the city dubbed Chagika which aims to provide safe spaces for people struggling to recharge their phones.
Speaking to Standard Digital on Sunday, September 17, the CEO noted that he was inspired to invest in sitting shades with charging booths to help address the struggle faced by different individuals while at the same time using clean renewable energy.
“Our aim is to provide shade at the public spaces, where one can comfortably sit and charge their phones using solar energy,” he told Standard Digital.
“On the other hand, this is clean energy that does not require much investment but as we continue identifying safe spaces in the city and away we believe this is a suitable project for counties to encourage the youths to think outside the box,” he added.
Booth Designs
According to Murunga, in the pilot phase of his new innovation, he built medium-sized booths accommodating six people.
They have triangular-shaped roofs fitted with solar panels. The solar panels generate power which is then transmitted to the sockets fitted beneath the seats.
With the new innovations, users are only required to carry their charges.
They are strategically designed in such a way that one can easily monitor his phone during charging to avoid losing it to robbers.
Dagoretti was the first part of Nairobi where Murunga tested his new innovation which he hopes to expand in the Nairobi Central Business District and other busy areas within the city.
“Now that Uhuru Park is almost ready, we hope Nairobi County will allow us a space as we expand to other parts as we aim to reach other counties,” he stated.
He, however, appealed to the national and county governments to support his innovation which he argued was eco-friendly and could also create job opportunities for the youth.
“We appeal to the government to promote innovations, especially by the youth, friendly policies will help us thrive,” he told Standard Digital.
