If Paul weren’t revolutionising the adoption of sustainable energy as an engineer, he would be a farmer.
His fascination with energy was sparked in his rural village, where electricity was a luxury that only few could afford. Car batteries and solar modules were the only glimpses of power that fuelled his dream to one day make it accessible to all.
Today, he is the managing director at Sentimental Energy Ltd, where he oversees the design, adoption, and development of affordable energy solutions across the region. His work, he says, is not just about technical excellence, it is about a deeper mission to bring sustainable energy to the underserved communities.
Before his current role, he served at Chloride Exide, an energy solutions provider, as a senior technical service engineer. There, he gained hands-on experience in renewable energy solutions. He then joined Solar Century, a UK-based firm, as a Regional Business Development Assistant Manager.
"In life you have to be a Jack of all trades. Monotony is a cycle of invention, but also, probably a recipe for quite a number of chaos in life."
The engineer agrees that these roles expanded his knowledge of solar technologies and provided international exposure, including advanced training in the UK.
‘‘In life you have to be a Jack of all trades. Monotony is a cycle of invention, but also, probably a recipe for quite a number of chaos in life.’’
His accolades?
Paul has a degree in Mechanical and Production Engineering from Moi University, with a major in energy. He also advanced his expertise with a Master’s in Business Development and Strategic Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and is now pursuing another Master’s in Sustainable Energy Transition Systems at Strathmore University in partnership with the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
Among the projects he is proud to have delivered in transforming Kenya’s urban landscape is collaborating with agencies such as the Kenya National Highways Authority to implement solar street lighting.
‘’We have done our first major project, that is converting the already vandalised Mombasa Southern Bypass and the newly opened Dongo Kundu Road from a grid-powered highway into a fully solar-powered highway.’’
Paul finds satisfaction in his commitment to sustainability, reiterating that almost everything is driven by electricity. He says the dynamics of the environment is changing in terms of temperature and the general thermic composition. With that, the same aspects of the ecological balance that are supposed to exist get altered.
‘’The aspect of adopting sustainable energy solutions from the previous fossil-based energy solutions that are damaging to the environment, damaging to the people, damaging to the wildlife, to solutions that can be used for generations, that can be affordable, that can also be environmentally friendly, is what it means to be sustainable”.
He has overseen training of university students in renewable energy solutions, helping to shape the next generation of innovators.
When it comes to misconceptions….
‘‘Kenya consumes about 83 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. We are talking about hydro, geothermal, wind and solar, biogas, and just a small fraction of around 13 percent to 17 percent that come from generated thermal sources. When you look at it, the entire misconception about what renewable energy and what it means has gone to a point where the market and information is completely spoiled to the extent that the people who are supposed to make the impact in the industry are not making a headway because of poor information and poor concepts.’’
In a world grappling with environmental and energy challenges, his legacy is one of resilience, academic resilience and an unwavering dedication to uplifting communities. His work serves as a beacon of hope and a call to action.
An avid reader, Paul finds inspiration in fiction. ‘‘Fiction is much closer to the truth. The imagination that goes into weaving and developing stories and communication that comes in solving problems has a different bearing on my mind.’’
While not at work, he is a nature lover and appreciates the greenery away from the city demands.
-Marion Sitawa