Solar Companies Win IFC Competition In Kenya

• Renewvia Energy Kenya and Sunken Limited have won a competition held in Kenya by IFC, AECF, UNHCR and Turkana County Government
• They won in the private sector window segment for demonstrating potentil to uplift lives of host communities and refugees in Kakuma and Kalobeyei regions
• The winners in this category were found to have identified real market opportunities in fields that have the potential to generate income

Solar power system developer Renewvia Energy Kenya and solar homes systems (SHS) provider Sunken Limited are among the winners of a competition held in Kenya, organized by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), Turkana County Government and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Both the companies are among the 1^st batch of winners of the competition that was implemented through the IFC/AECF Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund (KKCF) for the Private Sector Window (PSW) segment. Names of additional winners will be announced later in September 2021.

Renewvia Energy Kenya is part of US based Renewvia Energy Corporation and is focused on commercial and community solar power systems (see Renewvia Energy Commissions Microgrid Facilities). Sunken Limited also caters to the commercial segment with varied product offerings including SHS, solar water pumps and mini solar grids.

The 2 companies, along with other winners, were selected for demonstrating the potential to uplift the lives of host communities and refugees in Kakuma and Kalobeyei areas, and the greater Turkana County in Kenya. The Kakuma Refugee Hosting Area has 300,000 people, including 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers.

According to the IFC's Regional Director for Eastern Africa Jumoke Jagun-Dokunmu, the winners 'identified real market and development opportunities' in the Kakuma region, building on research and enabling work carried out by IFC and AECF here.

The PSW competition was designed for those private sector companies operating in Kakuma and Kalobeyei regions that are looking at expanding operations while supporting those that want to launch here. Winners will get help from KKCF to implement commercially viable and sustainable businesses that have potential to be income generators, create jobs and improve living standards for host communities and refugees. They will also be supported with technical assistance.

"The winners' innovative business models should have immediate and long-term positive impacts on people living in the Kakuma refugee hosting area," added Dokunmu.