Around 1.3 million people in 14 counties will be linked to solar energy under a Sh 390 million World Bank facility that will aim to light up areas that are not on the national grid.
The facility is being extended to 14 firms and will be used to finance the sale of 122, 085 solar home systems and 150,000 clean cooking solutions by July of next year. The firms will also provide after-sales services to the households.
The targeted counties are West Pokot, Turkana, Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta and Narok.
Kenya has an electricity coverage of 75 percent and has increased the pace of electrification supported by off-grid solutions such as solar to increase the population connected to power.
The money will be disbursed under the Kenya Off-grid Solar Access Project KOSAP and aims to spur the private sector to invest in solar solutions and provide clean lighting and cooking solutions in counties that are not linked to the national grid.
This project is intended to support private sector players to establish viable businesses in the underserved Counties, so that no one is left behind, according to Gordon Kihalangwa, Energy Principal Secretary.
KOSAP wants to build 157 mini-grids in the 14 counties that will connect about 61,500 households with solar power.
The ministry of energy says that at least 387 public facilities will be connected to electricity through stand-alone solar systems, in addition to retrofitting 380 water boreholes with solar-powered water pumps.
The government is attempting to provide electricity to the homes because of the abundant supply of sunshine.
The firms tapped under the project are Barefoot Power Limited, Bboxx Capital Limited, Brenhert Investments Limited, d.light Limited, Econome Limited, Elcom Networks Limited and Equity Bank Limited.
Other companies are Give Limited, Givewatts Limited, Krystal Solutions Limited, MS M-KOPA Solar Limited, Engie Mobisol Limited, Solar Panda Limited and Solibrium Limited.
The government contracted the firms under a Results-Based Financing model that offers incentives for institutions to meet the set target.
The firms are among 20 firms dealing in solar and clean cooking solutions providers that have been in operation in the named counties since June 2020. They sold 96,000 solar home systems, connecting over 400,000 people to electricity.
The counties are considered part of the marginalised Kenya and firms need more funding to connect widespread households, prompting the government to roll out the RBF with World Bank.