KENYA – At least 18 companies operating in renewable energy have just received US$4.6 million under the Kenya-Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP).

The funding will enable them to provide stand-alone solar systems and clean cooking solutions to households in 14 counties currently underserved by the national electricity grid.

The objective of the funding is to provide green energy to people living in rural areas of the country mainly in West Pokot, Turkana, Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Marsabit, Wajir, Garrisa, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta and Narok counties.

More than half of the funding nearly $3 million was provided to 10 suppliers of stand-alone solar systems.

These are Greenlight Planet Kenya, Solibrium, Solar Integrated Appliances, Raj Ushanga House, Azuri Technologies, d.light, Livelyhoods Kenya, BioLite Holdings, Mobisol (a subsidiary of French giant Engie) and Pawame.

These companies will supply and install about 165,000 solar home systems in the 14 counties involved in the KOSAP project.

The systems will have to consist of at least two fixed lamps, a portable lamp, radio and mobile phone charging stations “that meet global lighting standards”.

Similarly, 8 suppliers of green cooking solutions have been awarded $2 million and they include Rafode Renewable Energy, Solar Integrated Appliances, Raj Ushanga House, MK Light Africa, Livelyhoods Kenya, BioLite Holdings, Africa Clean Energy and Kenya Women Finance Trust.

These suppliers are expected to sell about 85,000 cookers in five counties in this East African country, including West Pokot, Turkana, Marsabit, Samburu and Isiolo.

The KOSAP project is being implemented by the Kenyan Ministry of Energy through the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC).

The project is funded by the World Bank through its subsidiary, the International Development Agency (IDA).

KOSAP aims to provide access to electricity to 1.3 million households in remote villages in 14 counties in Kenya.

The Kenyan government has set a goal of achieving universal access to electricity by 2022, and to clean cooking by 2028.

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