The Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched an ambitious national solarization programme across Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, marking a major step in the country’s transition toward climate-smart infrastructure and sustainable energy use.
The initiative, communicated through an official circular issued by the State Department for TVET and signed on behalf of the Principal Secretary, by acting secretary TVET Joseph Njau, aims to reduce energy costs, promote renewable energy adoption, and strengthen Kenya’s green skills workforce.
According to the Ministry, the project is anchored on a Memorandum of Understanding between the State Department, KCB Bank Kenya, and the KCB Foundation.
Under this agreement, KCB will provide financing for solar installations based on each institution’s power consumption, offering a 100 percent collateral-free loan model supported through concessional climate-action funding.
The loans are issued under an outright purchase framework with an interest rate of 9.7 percent. As part of their commitment, TVET institutions have been instructed to allocate five percent of their annual budgets to support the implementation, maintenance, monitoring, and long-term sustainability of the solar systems. To guide and supervise the rollout, a technical implementation committee has been established jointly by the State Department and KCB.
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The solarization project will begin with an initial group of 100 TVET institutions selected from across the country. Pre-qualified Engineering Procurement and Construction firms and solar service providers will conduct technical assessments, prepare quotations, and oversee installation, commissioning, and ongoing support
The ministry has directed institutions to prepare standard tender documents and engage suitable contractors through a restricted tendering process to ensure compliance and efficiency.
The capacity building forms a key component of the initiative. Each institution is required to nominate one trainer from its Electrical and Electronic Department to attend a two-day Training of Trainers programme scheduled for December 1 and 2, 2025 at PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute, which serves as the national Centre of Excellence in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.
Institutions must also nominate fourteen trainees for a Solar PV Installation Systems course to be conducted from December 3 to 6, 2025 at the same institution. Preference will be given to trainees who have already completed module two of their training programs.
PC Kinyanjui TTI will provide beds and mattresses for all participants, although trainees are expected to carry their own bedding and personal effects.
The KCB Foundation will play a significant role in supporting the training of instructors and trainees. In addition to facilitating certification in solar PV installation and clean-energy systems, the Foundation will supply toolkits required for the maintenance of solar installations.
It will also support the establishment and management of seedling nurseries within participating TVET institutions, reinforcing the project’s broader climate-action objectives and promoting environmental stewardship.
The ministry of education emphasizes that the solarization programme will not only reduce operational costs in TVET institutions but will also equip young Kenyans with essential skills that are increasingly in demand within the growing renewable energy sector.
The initiative aligns with Kenya’s commitment to climate-resilient development and is expected to contribute significantly to both economic and environmental sustainability as the country moves toward a greener future.
By Philip Koech
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