Straight answers before you call.

Borehole cost depends on drilling depth, aquifer conditions, pump size, storage capacity, water treatment requirements and site distance from Nairobi. Depth is the largest variable — a borehole of 60 m has a very different cost from one of 150 m. The hydrogeological survey significantly narrows the depth estimate before drilling begins. We provide a detailed itemised quote after the survey.

System size depends on how much energy you use per day. A typical urban Nairobi home with lights, fans and a fridge may need 1–3 kWp. A home with air conditioning, a water pump or a workshop needs more. We carry out a free load assessment during the site visit before recommending any size — we don't guess.

Yes. The site survey and quote are free. We visit your site, assess your load or water need, and prepare an itemised quote at no charge. For remote sites, we may ask you to cover the survey travel cost — we'll confirm this before the visit.

[Payment terms — to be supplied by Chimtech. Typical contractor terms are a deposit of 50–60% on order, with the balance due on completion. We will confirm our terms in the quote.]

Yes. We offer scheduled maintenance contracts for solar systems (annual panel cleaning and system inspection), borehole pumps (annual pump service and water quality retest) and electrical installations (annual distribution board inspection and testing). Contact us to discuss a plan suited to your site.

Yes. Grid-tied and hybrid systems work alongside your KPLC supply. The solar system supplies power first; KPLC only kicks in when solar is insufficient — at night or on heavily overcast days. With a battery, you use stored solar at night before drawing from the grid.

At night, a grid-tied system switches to KPLC automatically. A hybrid system uses stored battery power first, then grid. An off-grid system relies entirely on the battery bank — we size this to cover night-time and low-light use, usually 1–2 days' consumption. Solar panels still generate on overcast days, just at reduced output.

Quality solar panels carry a 25-year performance guarantee (output will be at least 80% of rated power after 25 years). The 10-year product warranty covers manufacturing defects. With proper installation and minimal maintenance (periodic cleaning), panels typically outlast their warranties. Inverters typically last 10–15 years; LiFePO₄ batteries 10+ years.

Often yes, depending on the inverter and battery model installed. Many hybrid inverters are designed for staged expansion — you start with what you can afford and add panels or batteries as your budget or load grows. We design systems with this in mind and confirm expandability in the quote.

Most land in Kenya has groundwater at some depth. The hydrogeological survey uses surface geophysics to map the subsurface and identify water-bearing zones before drilling. It doesn't guarantee water, but it significantly increases the probability of a productive borehole and avoids wasting money drilling in the wrong place.

Drilling itself typically takes 2–7 days depending on depth and rock type. The full process from survey to handover — including the WRA permit (2–4 weeks), test pumping, lab results and equipping — takes 4–8 weeks on average. We confirm the specific timeline in the quote.

Yes. We prepare and follow up the WRA drilling permit application. Where NEMA requirements apply (typically for large-scale abstraction), we advise accordingly. Permit fees are paid by the client; we handle the paperwork. No borehole should be drilled without a valid WRA permit — it is a legal requirement.

A dry borehole is uncommon when preceded by a proper hydrogeological survey. In the event of a dry hole, drilling costs to that point are still incurred — this is the nature of the work and is stated clearly in our contract. We discuss this honestly with every client before work begins. The survey significantly reduces but cannot eliminate this risk.

We submit water samples from every borehole to an accredited laboratory for analysis. Results determine whether treatment is needed before the water is used for drinking — common treatments include chlorination and iron removal. We will not commission a borehole for potable use without laboratory confirmation.

Yes. Under the Energy Act and EPRA regulations, all fixed electrical installations in Kenya must be carried out by a licensed electrical contractor. Work by unlicensed individuals is illegal, may void your property insurance, and cannot receive a compliance certificate required by KPLC, NCA or most banks.

An electrical installation compliance certificate (EIC) confirms that the installation was tested and complies with EPRA wiring regulations. KPLC requires it for new connections, NCA for occupation certificates, and most banks for mortgage releases. We issue this automatically on completion of any new or rewired installation.

Yes — and this is one of our strengths. Because we do both solar and electrical work, the inverter, distribution board, changeover switching and earthing are all designed and installed as a coherent system by the same team. This avoids the common problem of incompatible equipment from two separate contractors.

You need a WRA drilling permit before drilling begins, and a WRA abstraction licence for ongoing water use. For large-scale projects (e.g. commercial irrigation or large industrial abstraction), NEMA may require an Environmental Impact Assessment. We help with the WRA applications; you pay the permit fees directly to WRA.

The WRA drilling permit typically takes 2–4 weeks from application to approval. We submit the application promptly after the site survey and procurement begins in parallel, so the permit timeline does not idle the whole project.

A residential solar installation typically takes 3–5 weeks from enquiry to commissioning: 1–2 days for the site survey, 2–5 working days for the quote, 3–10 working days for equipment procurement, and 1–3 days on site for installation. Larger commercial systems take longer. We confirm the timeline in every quote.

Yes. We are based in Nairobi (Kasarani Business Centre) and serve clients countrywide. For sites outside Nairobi, travel and logistics costs are added to the quote — we confirm these transparently before any work begins. Contact us with your location and we'll confirm feasibility and costs.