KOSAP project releases funds to facilitate sale of clean energy solutions in off-grid areas in Kenya

Residents of off-grid areas in Kenya are poised to benefit from the sale of quality solar and clean cooking products following the release of Ksh 500,000,000 from the Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP) to 19 companies to facilitate the sale of their products in these counties.

The release of funds has provided the companies with the necessary facilitation to move into the counties to set up sales and after-sales infrastructure for standalone solar systems and modern cookstoves, under the Sh15 billion Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP). A total of 10 vendors have been selected for standalone solar systems and 9 for clean cooking component, after a competitive evaluation process.

The companies are contracted under the second component of KOSAP, where Results Based Financing (RBF) and Debt Facilities have been established, aimed at spurring private sector actors to invest in modern solar solutions and providing clean cooking solutions in counties that are not served by the national electricity grid. KOSAP is extending financing to the selected companies as part of the government efforts to achieve universal access to electricity by 2022 and universal access to clean cooking by 2028, as per the Kenya National Electrification Strategy and the Kenya Sustainable Energy for Action Agenda respectively. The Results Based Financing (RBF) and Debt Facilities are managed by SNV Netherlands Development Organization and SunFunder, on behalf of the Ministry of Energy.

Speaking about this development, Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter noted: “This is a major milestone for us at the Ministry and the Government of Kenya. This project will enable us to provide Stand-alone Solar Systems (SSS) and Clean Cooking Solutions (CCS) for households in 14 counties that are currently underserved by the national electricity grid, as a critical lever for achieving inclusion, a higher standard of living for our citizens and overall socio-economic development.”

To read the full press release issued by the Kenyan Government, please click here.