The Impact for Kenya Fund
Kenya aims to reach 100% clean energy in its electricity grid by 2030. Achieving this ambitious target does more than contribute to global climate goals – it also boosts economic growth and resilience by reducing Kenya’s reliance on volatile foreign energy sources, while addressing the rising problem of urban air pollution.
This target is becoming a reality thanks to Kenyan enterprises that address market challenges with accessible, cost-effective solutions. Across the country, supermarkets are turning to solar power to reduce their operating costs, offer fresher food to customers, and minimize waste of fresh produce sourced from farmers. Farmers in Kenya’s breadbasket counties are replacing diesel pumps with climate-smart irrigation systems, reducing costs, improving yields, and building resilience against Kenya’s frequent droughts.
A new generation of homegrown Kenyan enterprises is proving that clean energy can drive both economic returns and climate resilience. With capital and technical assistance from the Impact for Kenya Fund, trailblazers like Safer Power Group Ltd. and Solargen Technologies Ltd. are making renewable energy accessible and practical for Kenyans. These companies’ efforts are proving that investing in clean energy delivers more than environmental benefits; it powers inclusive growth, strengthens market systems, and builds a more sustainable, resilient future for all Kenyans.
The Impact for Kenya Fund (INK Fund) is a $35 million sustainable investment vehicle that provides flexible medium and long-term capital to financial institutions and enterprises operating at the intersection of financial inclusion, agriculture, climate finance, and basic services.
The INK Fund advances climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in Kenya through targeted green investments that facilitate a transition to clean energy, climate-smart agriculture, and climate-resilient infrastructure. By providing financing to innovative enterprises that deliver solar services to the agriculture, manufacturing, and retail sectors, the INK Fund enables businesses to decrease dependence on fossil fuels, integrate renewable energy solutions, and enhance resilience to climate risks. These investments contribute to greater energy access and efficiency while promoting inclusive economic development and environmental sustainability within communities across Kenya. The INK Fund is owned by ACDI/VOCA and managed by AV Ventures LLC.
Safer Power Group Ltd.
Safer Power is a clean energy SME that provides solar and integrated power systems, primarily to agro-processors, manufacturers and retailers. The enterprise has historically operated as an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for project-based solar installations but has recently expanded into complementary business lines that can scale impact. In 2025, the INK Fund invested $3 million into Safer Power, allowing the company to strengthen its balance sheet, expand manufacturing and distribution, and grow its solar-as-a-service models. Since the investment, Safer Power has reported significant progress across four areas:
Systemic Impact – AV Ventures invested in Safer Power for its demonstrated capacity to drive systemic, market-wide transformation in Kenya. One example is Safer Power’s installation of a 50-kilowatt peak (kWp) solar system for the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) in Athi River, an industrial hub serving diverse manufacturers, including JP Garments. Since 2025, JP Garments has operated exclusively on solar energy, exporting more than 42 million garments to the EU and USA. This enterprise demonstrates how Kenyan manufacturers can profitably shift to renewable energy, positioning Kenya as a top sustainable manufacturing hub. Additionally, Safer Power installed an 800 kWp solar system for Del Monte Kenya Limited (DMKL), boosting the pineapple processor’s sustainable operations. The project is expected to reduce DMKL’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 28% by 2030. As a major economic force, DMKL contributes over $800 million to Kenya’s GDP and employs nearly 20,000 Kenyans annually.
Financial Growth – The company’s stronger capital base allowed it to extend supplier credit from 90 to about 150 days with manufacturers, easing working capital and supporting multiple projects simultaneously.
Operational Transformation – Safer Power used increased capital to expand into electrical panel manufacturing and solar equipment leasing, reducing reliance on the single project model. Greater working capital allowed large-scale installations for retail, industrial, and irrigation clients, including the installation of solar systems at 70 QuickMart supermarkets across Kenya. The company also secured an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) license for Siemens Sivacon switchboards, enabling Safer power to produce the technology in Kenya under the Siemens brand.
Environmental, Economic and Social Impact – Safer Power’s new projects are expected to create around 80 additional full-time jobs over the next 12 months, including electrical engineers, technicians and installers, factory workers, and construction laborers. Additionally, Safer Power has expanded its services to support the agriculture sector by installing large-scale solar irrigation projects. These solutions help farmers modernize, reduce reliance on rainfall and diesel pumps, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build resilience against recurring droughts.
Solargen Technologies Ltd.
Solargen Technologies is a renewable energy enterprise that provides sustainable energy, water pumping, mini-grid and colling solutions to underserved communities throughout East Africa (Somalia and Kenya). Solargen focuses on solarizing boreholes, rural electrification, and commercial solar projects to foster economic growth and food security through agricultural irrigation. The INK Fund invested $2.5 million in quasi-equity financing to help Solargen expand clean energy access. Since the initial 2022 transaction, Solargen has demonstrated notable systemic market, financial, operational, and impact growth.
Systemic Impact – Solargen’s pay-as-you-go model is transforming energy access in Kenya by making solar power affordable to customers previously locked out of the market. One recent example is a solar system installed at a girls’ boarding school in the Rift Valley. With a 120 kilowatt-hour (kWh) solar system, Solargen provided off-grid dormitory, common area and security lighting. For a school long affected by Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) outages and rising tariffs, the Solargen system delivers practical benefits: reliable evening study time, improved student safety, and lower boarding costs for parents. Similarly, Solargen has financed over 20 micro-grids, enabling remote communities in Kenya to operate paid electricity service hubs where grid power remains inaccessible due to high infrastructure costs. These community grids, ranging between 3 kW and 100 kW, provide reliable power to households and local enterprises. Customers pay a monthly fee, which is aggregated by a community leader and remitted to Solargen. The model is also Shariah-compliant, enabling Muslim customers to access solar services without relying on interest-bearing loans.
Financial Growth – Solargen’s revenue increased by 53.5%, rising from $3.7 million in 2024 to $5.7 million in 2025, demonstrating strong growth, even after losing $1.4 million from cancelled donor projects. Profitability also increased as gross margins climbed from 25% to 28%, due mostly to expanded demand for solar panels, batteries, inverters, and water pumps.
Operational Transformation – With the capitalization from the INK Fund, Solargen has expanded its workforce and restructured by separating sales and engineering departments, leading to accelerated project delivery and improved customer interactions. Solargen also invested in a lead tracking platform that offers greater visibility into the sales pipeline and reduces missed opportunities. Additionally, the company allocated capital toward enhancing inventory management, ensuring ongoing availability of core products and optimizing sales processes.
Environmental, Economic, and Social Impact – Solargen’s pay-as-you-go model increases the accessibility of solar systems for micro-enterprises and households. Additionally, the company has established public-private partnerships (PPPs) with local banks to facilitate the adoption of solar energy solutions by public schools, clinics, and offices, allowing these institutions to repay Solargen monthly using the savings generated from reduced energy costs. Finally, over 50% of Solargen’s operations support the agribusiness sector, boosting agricultural productivity and supporting farmers build drought resistance.
The INK Fund – A Vehicle for Systemic Impact
Through its investments, the INK Fund has not only provided capital to promising enterprises but has also played a pivotal role in driving their growth and systemic market transformation. By investing in Safer Power and Solargen Technologies, the fund enabled these companies to strengthen their financial foundations, streamline their operations, and broaden their impact. The INK Fund’s capital and technical assistance have supported both Safer Power and Solargen to scale their outreach, making solar-powered irrigation and energy-efficient systems more accessible and affordable. This expanded reach has positioned these enterprises as leaders in the region’s transition to clean energy, and as key partners in ensuring that clean energy translates to quality-of-life improvements in agriculture, health, manufacturing and education. By catalyzing innovation and encouraging competition, these investments are producing a systemic impact in the market, promoting sustainable practices, and expanding access to clean energy solutions for a wider range of stakeholders.
