Quick Navigation
- Background: Why Kenya is a key market
- Kenya Power Lighting Projects
- Sollatek Electronics Kenya
- M-KOPA Solar
- Chloride Exide Kenya
- Solarcentury Africa (Kenya Branch)
- Davis & Shirtliff
- Chinese EPCs (Sinohydro, AVIC, CWE)
- Kenya Renewable Energy Association (KEREA Members)
- NGO & Donor Projects (World Bank, AfDB, UNDP)
- Comparison of Key Players
- Final Takeaway
- Work With Sunlurio
Background: Why Kenya is a key market
Kenya is East Africa’s logistics hub, with Mombasa port and the busy Nairobi–Mombasa highway. Street lighting demand is high in cities and along highways, both for safety and trade.
The government has promoted PPP models for infrastructure, including solar street lighting. Nairobi’s Smart City Plan aims to add thousands of smart poles with CCTV and Wi-Fi. Donor programs like the World Bank’s Kenya Energy Expansion Project and AfDB rural electrification fund also include solar lighting.
For EPC contractors, Kenya offers big contracts but also strict compliance. Councils and ministries often insist on IEC-certified products.
Kenya Power (KPLC) manages many public lighting projects. They contract EPCs for solar street lighting, especially in urban Nairobi and Mombasa.
Case Example: In 2021 KPLC rolled out 1,200 solar street lights across Nairobi estates under the Smart City initiative.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Backed by government funding | Bureaucratic, slow payment cycles |
| Projects large scale | Tender process very strict |
| Visibility in main cities | Hard for small EPCs to win |
Sollatek is one of the most recognized solar suppliers in Kenya. Based in Mombasa, they distribute solar systems, including street lights. Their systems are mid- to high-quality, with lithium batteries and IEC certification.
Case Example: In 2022 Sollatek supplied 300 solar street lights in Mombasa port access roads.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Strong presence in Mombasa | Higher cost per unit |
| Recognized by councils | Not always fastest delivery |
| IEC-certified systems | Focus on coastal Kenya |
M-KOPA is famous for pay-as-you-go home solar. They also provide solar lighting for communities, sometimes bundling in street lights. Their strength is financing and community reach.
Case Example: In 2020 M-KOPA supported 100 solar street lights in rural Kitui County, linked to a community pay-go scheme.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Strong financing model | Street lights not main focus |
| Wide distribution | Specs lower than high-end EPC |
| Good for rural projects | Limited government tender role |
Chloride Exide is a battery and solar products company with strong retail presence. They supply all-in-one solar street lights for estates, councils, and NGOs.
Case Example: In 2021 they installed 150 solar street lights in Nakuru County rural roads.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Well-known battery supplier | Focus more on retail |
| Good aftersales network | Limited large EPC capacity |
| Affordable lights | Specs mid-range |
Solarcentury Africa (Kenya Branch)
Solarcentury (UK-based) has projects in Kenya, mostly solar farms, but also offers solar lighting in donor programs. Their systems are high spec, with European engineering.
Case Example: In 2019 they deployed 200 solar street lights in Nairobi estates, co-financed by UNDP.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| International reputation | High cost |
| Strong donor track record | Focus not on lighting |
| High quality systems | Slow procurement |
A large regional engineering company, Davis & Shirtliff supply water pumps, power systems, and solar lights. They are often chosen for estate lighting or mid-size city projects.
Case Example: In 2022 they installed 180 solar lights in Kisumu industrial area.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Trusted engineering brand | Lighting is side business |
| Regional presence across EA | Mid-price, not donor leader |
| Reliable delivery | Not focused on compliance docs |
Chinese EPCs (Sinohydro, AVIC, CWE)
Chinese EPCs active in Kenya (Sinohydro, AVIC, CWE) often deliver solar lights as part of road projects. Their advantage is scale and Chinese concessional loans.
Case Example: In 2021 Sinohydro installed 500 solar street lights along Nairobi expressway under a PPP contract.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Access to Chinese finance | Bureaucratic |
| Handle very large projects | Less flexible |
| Donor-compliant systems | Hard for local EPCs to partner |
Kenya Renewable Energy Association (KEREA Members)
Several KEREA member firms (local SMEs) supply solar street lights for councils and NGOs. Examples: PowerPoint Systems, Harmonic Systems.
Case Example: In 2020, PowerPoint Systems supplied 120 solar street lights in Machakos County.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Local SMEs, flexible | Small capacity |
| Affordable | Specs vary |
| Easy to engage | Limited donor compliance |
NGO & Donor Projects (World Bank, AfDB, UNDP)
Donors have funded solar lights in Kenya for rural safety and urban smart city pilots. EPCs usually execute with local partners.
Case Example: 2022 World Bank-backed solar lighting in Turkana County rural roads, executed by a local EPC + donor team.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Guaranteed funding | Long paperwork |
| Specs fixed to donor standards | Slow rollout |
| Good for EPC partnerships | Limited flexibility |
| Company | Strength | Example Project | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya Power | Government-backed | 1200 units Nairobi, 2021 | Urban projects |
| Sollatek | IEC-certified | 300 units Mombasa, 2022 | Coastal cities |
| M-KOPA | Finance model | 100 units Kitui, 2020 | Rural |
| Chloride Exide | Battery + retail | 150 units Nakuru, 2021 | Estates |
| Solarcentury | International | 200 units Nairobi, 2019 | Donor |
| Davis & Shirtliff | Regional brand | 180 units Kisumu, 2022 | Industrial |
| Chinese EPCs | Scale + finance | 500 units Nairobi, 2021 | PPP |
| KEREA SMEs | Flexible | 120 units Machakos, 2020 | Local councils |
| Donor Projects | Secure finance | 2022 Turkana County | Rural aid |
Kenya’s solar street light market is split between big PPP projects in Nairobi/Mombasa, donor-funded rural programs, and estate/county-level installs.
- For mega-projects: Chinese EPCs and Kenya Power dominate.
- For donor-funded projects: Solarcentury, Wilkins (from Ghana), or Sollatek win.
- For rural and estates: M-KOPA, Chloride Exide, Davis & Shirtliff are common.
But across Kenya, one gap stays: high-efficiency, compliance-ready systems. Many lights fail to meet IEC LM-80, IP66, IK08, or ISO 12944. That is where Sunlurio can add value to EPCs bidding in Kenya.
If you are preparing for a Kenya tender, you need:
- IEC and CE compliance for donor projects
- Poles tested for coastal corrosion (Mombasa)
- Long-life LiFePO₄ batteries for rural roads
- High lm/W efficiency to cut total cost
At Sunlurio we provide:
- 230 lm/W LEDs, 12 h per night, 3+ nights autonomy
- 6000+ cycle LiFePO₄ batteries
- Hot-dip galvanized poles, ISO 12944 tested, 720 h salt spray
- Compliance-ready documentation for PPP and donor projects
👉 Win your next Kenya tender with a supplier who understands EPC pain points.
