(+254) 115 016 473 | sales@soneb.co.ke
Soneb LTD is a professional solar company in kenya, staffed by professionals who have over 15 years’ experience in the renewable energy sector in East Africa. We guarantee a high level of services for each of our clients.
The Challenge
A significant portion of rural communities in Kenya remain undersupplied with electricity, and as such their economic potential is not fully harnessed. This is in part due to the focus that state grid connection projects have aimed for connectivity for consumption rather than connectivity to production. The lack of viable economic opportunities in the rural areas is one of the main contributors to the challenge of youth unemployment in Africa. Youth unemployment has been cited as a time bomb by development organizations and continues to feature as priority issue in the Kenyan governance landscape. It is unclear whether as yet, whether enough is being done to diffuse the growing unemployment problem and its attendant challenges. This has set in motion the perennial challenge found in rural communities in Kenya linked to underinvestment and lack of job creation, and the steady tide of rural-urban migration that has robbed most rural communities of their productive youth, exacerbating the problem of rural poverty.
The Opportunity
This difficult situation, surprisingly presents an opportunity for intervention by development organizations with an interest in job creation. It is well known that energy access is directly linked to economic development. This means that as development organizations support energy access programs for rural areas, they will be contributing towards the economic development of these areas with a clear opportunity to support solar energy entrepreneurs. In the Kenyan case, one of the most abundant and reliable sources of power is solar energy, with plenty of sunshine reaching all parts of the country for most of the year. This is in part due to the country’s location next to the equator, and also due to local climate factors which ensure that solar insolation experienced is more than sufficient for optimal solar power harvesting. An additional fact is that the solar power industry has reached maturity characterized by sustainable levels of availability, efficiency and reliability of solar power systems of various sizes.
The Barriers
The key barrier standing in the way of solar based entrepreneurship is the initial cost of solar power systems, and lack of information on their use. These two gaps, if addressed, positions solar as a promising solution to the youth unemployment challenge the country faces.
The Call for Partnership
In line with the above, Soneb’s Solar for Enterprise Development Project exists to bring together the key players needed to support renewable energy entrepreneurs. Soneb is an experienced player in the solar sector in East Africa and has the equipment, knowledge and commitment to support the adoption of solar power for productive uses. In rural settings, these productive uses include solar powered enterprises like Barber shops (“kinyozis”), phone charging stations, and entertainment dens for video shows, tailoring, and operation of sugarcane juicers. In addition, it includes enterprises that need power for small power tools. In addition to the solar equipment, we also offer enterprise development support which includes end user training on the use and maintenance of solar equipment. In addition, we offer training in basic book keeping skills, basic sales, marketing and customer services skills. We also link each client with a business mentor in their locality to offer them guidance as they grow their business.
There is a distinct gap for partners willing to provide capital for groups such as the youth, women and people living with disabilities in rural areas so that they can overcome the barriers associated with the startup costs of a solar based enterprise. Solar entrepreneurship will have benefits for any organization with an interest in youth entrepreneurship, rural development, environmental conservation, peace and conflict resolution, and HIV-AIDS interventions.
Soneb LTD is actively looking for such partners to make the Solar for Enterprise Development Program a reality. If this program is of interest to your organization, we will be very glad to have a chat on the possibilities.