The Mike Sonko solar power mosque project has brought real light and hope to families in a quiet corner of northern Kenya. Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko stepped in after leaders at Jamia Mosque in Kinna Ward reached out for help.
They told him about the heavy electricity bills that made it hard to keep the lights on and water flowing. Sonko listened and acted fast.
Just days ago the first solar system went live at the mosque. It sits in Garbatula Sub-County out in Isiolo. The panels now run the building and push water to storage tanks that serve more than 160 homes nearby.
People there used to struggle every day with dry taps and dim evenings. This change feels huge in a place where the sun beats down but power often stays out of reach.
Sheikh Abdullahi Kanjora and Mzee Mohammed Guyo from the mosque management made the initial request. Sheikh Hussein Ibrahim Bulle helped put the pieces together.
They explained how worshippers had to carry water from home just to wash before prayers. That extra step wore everyone down, especially with Ramadan coming soon. Long nights of prayer need steady power and easy access to clean water. Sonko made sure both arrived in time.
The setup goes beyond basic lights. Engineers who travelled from Nairobi were right there in Isiolo, wiring up public address speakers so the call to prayer reaches every corner clearly.
They laid fresh water pipes and filled big tanks that will keep flowing even when the grid fails. Prayer mats showed up too, along with fixes to some of the older mud-walled sections of the building. The whole job turned a simple appeal into something solid that the whole community can touch.
Sonko put it straight in his own words. He said, “We do not play politics with the lives of Kenyans. This project came from a humble ask, and it got done without any fanfare. “
That line hit home for many who know him as the man who shows up with action instead of long speeches. In a region where government help sometimes moves slowly, his team moved quickly.
Kinna sits in dry rangeland where herders and small farmers scrape by. Electricity costs bite hard when every shilling counts for school fees or medicine.
Water arrives by truck on good days but runs short when rains fail. The mosque has always served as more than a prayer hall. It acts as a gathering spot for advice meetings and support during tough times. Now it runs on free sunshine and shares that gift with neighbours.
Sonko already has eyes on the next steps. His people marked five other mosques in the area that sit in the dark with no reliable water. Worshippers there still haul buckets home for their daily wash before heading to pray.
The same crew will roll out to those spots soon. Solar panels, water lines, speakers and basic upgrades will follow the same pattern. If the first one worked this well, the rest should bring even more relief.
Locals in Isiolo South have started talking about the difference. One young father near the mosque said his kids can study longer now without worrying about blackouts.
Women who fetch water feel the load lift a bit. During Ramadan the extra comfort will mean more focus on faith and less on daily chores. That matters in a community that values togetherness, especially when the fasting month brings everyone closer.
This fits a bigger pattern for Sonko lately. He has poured energy into water projects, tank deliveries and now green power across the north. Some see it as smart politics ahead of future races.
Others just see a man who keeps his promises to regular people. Either way, the results speak loud. Panels on a mosque roof might look small, but they touch hundreds of lives in places where every improvement counts double.
The engineers keep moving between sites. Trucks loaded with equipment roll through the dusty roads. Teams test connections and explain the new systems to curious locals. Kids gather to watch the panels catch the sun.
Older men nod in approval as the water starts to flow without the usual fight. Moments like these remind everyone why small fixes can feel massive out here.
Kenya pushes hard for more solar these days. The sun never takes a break in these parts, and costs keep dropping on the tech. Projects like this one show what happens when leaders match the talk with real work on the ground. No fancy launches, just quiet progress that people can see and feel right away.
As Ramadan draws near, the timing feels perfect. Families will gather at Jamia Mosque under steady lights with water close at hand. The call to prayer will ring clear, and the mats will stay clean and ready. Sonko and his crew have turned a tough situation into something brighter for everyone involved.
The work does not stop at one building. More mosques wait their turn, and more households will get a share of the water. In a country where power bills spark plenty of headaches, this kind of direct help stands out. It shows what can happen when someone hears an appeal and turns it into action without delay.
People in Kinna and beyond now look at their mosque with fresh eyes. What once ran on expensive grid power now runs clean and free. The tanks stay full, and the nights feel safer.
This Mike Sonko solar power mosque effort has set a tone for the weeks ahead. It has given the community something to celebrate as they prepare for a month of reflection and prayer.
The story spreads through phone calls and quick videos. Neighbours share updates and thank the team that made it happen. For Sonko the message stays simple. Service comes first. In places like Garbatula, that promise now shines as bright as the new solar lights.
