The World Bank, the private sector, and the Kenyan government have partnered for a Ksh.15 billion Off-Grid Solar electricity programme that would see improved energy access in 14 counties with low electrification rates.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, in a statement released through the PSCU on Tuesday, February 18, announced the partnership when he presided over the official opening of the 6th Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo in Nairobi.
Kenyatta indicated that the programme was part of the government’s broader target of attaining an additional 1.9 million solar-based connections through the Kenya National Electrification Strategy that was launched in 2018.
"To achieve our electrification programme through off-grid solutions, my administration recognizes the importance of partnering with the private sector,” he stated.
During the summit, President Kenyatta announced that his government would focus on providing an enabling environment for private sector investors to thrive in the provision of off-grid solar products and services to ensure that his government's ambitions are fulfilled.
“We have given import duty exemptions on a range of solar products to ensure both profitabilities for investors as well as affordability and high-quality products on the part of consumers,” he stated.
Noting that Kenya has been recognized as the world’s second-largest stand-alone solar market after India, President Kenyatta commended the achievement but insisted that there was still untapped potential and room for growth.
“We have achieved this feat on the basis of 6.2 million verified sales of solar products since 2009 and 14 million people accessing improved energy through off-grid solar solutions between the years 2016 and 2018.
“In 2019, we continued this upward trend, achieving 2 million sales of solar products. This tremendous growth in the uptake of off-grid solar solutions is an integral part of my administration’s strategy towards the realization of universal access to electricity,” the President added.
At the summit, Kenyatta noted that since he assumed office in 2013, the number of Kenyans with access to electricity has more than tripled from 2.2 million in 2013 to 7.2 million currently.
He underlined the government’s commitment to continue working closely with its partners to deepen the penetration of clean, affordable and reliable energy and help improve the lives of Kenyans while at the same time protecting the environment.
