Nairobi, Kenya – Sun King, a leading off-grid solar firm serving sub-Saharan Africa, has launched its first large-scale factory on the continent. The Nairobi plant will assemble solar-compatible televisions and smartphones, with capacity for up to 700,000 units annually. The move comes as the company seeks to establish deeper roots in local production to reduce costs and expedite delivery.
T. Patrick Walsh, Sun King‘s co-founder and CEO, hailed the step as a game-changer. “This facility allows us to harness Africa’s talent and ingenuity while delivering affordable, high-quality products,” Walsh said. The plant supports Sun King’s pay-as-you-go model, which has reached millions across Africa and Asia since 2007.
The opening follows a KES 20 billion ($156 million) loan in July from banks and development lenders. Structured around customer repayments, the funds will extend solar kits to 1.4 million low-income households and small businesses in Kenya. One in five Kenyan homes already uses Sun King gear, up from modest starts in 2017.
Local Build for Global Green Goals
Sun King’s Kenya factory fits a broader push for African-made climate tech. It shortens supply chains, trims logistics, and boosts local jobs—echoing moves by firms like Spiro, which raised $100 million for e-motorcycle hubs. Wale Aboyade, Sun King’s senior vice-president for public policy, stressed partnerships. “Our new Kenyan facility reflects Sun King’s long-term partnership with governments and communities to advance Africa’s manufacturing capacity,” Aboyade noted.
The company plans a second plant in Nigeria soon, strengthening regional networks. Sun King distributes over 330,000 solar kits monthly now, a leap from 10,000 in 2017. This local focus could slash environmental costs and fuel the continent’s clean energy surge, where demand for affordable power tops 600 million off-grid users.
As investors pour into African cleantech—amid a $180 billion digital economy by 2025—Sun King’s bet signals confidence. Will homegrown factories pave the way to sustainability?
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