REREC (Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation) is set to commission 120 solar mini-grids in 14 Kenyan counties, as part of the KOSAP (Kenyan Off-grid Solar Access Project: US$150 million, World Bank), with a completion date set for 30 September 2026. Kenya is part of a continent-wide wave of rural electrification, but follows a model driven by the state and donors, in which the public operator designs, finances and delivers the infrastructure.

Neighbouring countries are taking markedly different approaches. In Madagascar, the expansion of mini-grids is led by a private operator, WeLight, which operates nearly 190 sites serving some 800,000 people and is now setting its sights on Nigeria. In Nigeria, the public agency REA (Rural Electrification Agency) is rolling out a number of programmes – 39 mini-grids in Adamawa plus a 3.5 MW power station in Kebbi, and 23 mini-grids serving around 50,000 people – whilst relying heavily on international donors such as the World Bank (DARES), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), as well as private sector actors for implementation.

These approaches raise the same question: which model – public/donor-funded, private/concession-based or hybrid – best ensures adherence to deadlines, cost control and the long-term sustainability of operation and maintenance at dispersed sites with low user density? The outcome of Kenya’s closely monitored timetable will provide an initial indication of the answer.

What this means

for an off-grid developer or financier, Kenya confirms an active but predominantly public-sector market; understanding the relationship between REREC and donors is key to accessing future tender rounds and operational models.

Sources: Citizen Digital (05/08/2026), SolarQuarter (Africa Weekly, 12/08/2026)