Safaricom expands solar-powered base stations as diesel prices hit record high

Overview

Updated 2 hours ago

Safaricom ran 2,028 of its network base stations on solar power in the fiscal year ending March 2026. That's a gain of 596 sites and lifts renewable-powered masts to 35.7% of its network, up from 1,432 a year earlier.

The shift comes as diesel prices in Kenya hit a record Sh227 per litre, pushing Safaricom's annual fuel spending toward Sh2.3 billion. The company targets 3,000 solar sites by March 2027 and 5,000 by 2030, part of a net-zero-by-2050 commitment.

Why it matters

Every base station Safaricom moves off diesel cuts its exposure to record fuel prices and trims the carbon footprint of Kenya's largest telecom network.

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Key Indicators

2,028

Base stations on solar power

Network sites powered by solar in FY26, up from 1,432 in FY25.

35.7%

Network on green energy

Share of Safaricom's network powered by renewable sources.

596

Sites added in FY26

Base stations converted to solar during the fiscal year.

Sh2.3B

Annual diesel cost

Safaricom's yearly spending on diesel for network generators.

56,354

Scope 1 and 2 emissions

Combined tCO2e from owned generators and purchased electricity in FY26, up 9.1% from FY25.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Peter Ndegwa

Chief Executive Officer, Safaricom

Serving CEO; acknowledged emissions rise and solar rollout delays

Organizations Involved

Safaricom PLC

Telecommunications Company

Active; Kenya's largest telecom operator

Kenya's largest telecommunications operator, majority-owned by Vodafone.

Kenya Power (KPLC)

State-owned Electric Utility

Supplies 78% of Safaricom's network energy

Kenya's national electricity utility, providing most of the grid power for Safaricom's network.

Timeline

2022 October 2026

5 events Latest: Yesterday

Tap a bar to jump to that date

October 2026
Construction Review publishes analysis of solar rollout
Latest Report

Construction Review covers Safaricom's 2,028 solar base stations, linking the rollout to Kenya's off-grid electrification push.
Yesterday
Safaricom launches FY26 Sustainable Business Report
Report

Company discloses 2,028 solar sites, 35.7% green energy share, and a 9.1% rise in Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
3 days ago
March 2026
FY26 closes with 2,028 sites on solar
Milestone

Safaricom adds 596 sites during the fiscal year, raising the total from 1,432 to 2,028.
March 2026
August 2025
Solar-powered base stations reach 1,500
Milestone

Safaricom newsroom reports 1,500 base transmission stations fully powered by solar.
August 2025
2022
Safaricom starts solar program with 310 off-grid sites
Milestone

Company converts 310 base stations in areas without grid access, all previously running on diesel.
2022

Scenarios

Safaricom hits 3,000 solar sites by March 2027

Possible Resolves by Oct 31, 2027

Discussed by: Safaricom management; CEO Peter Ndegwa stated the company expects to reach 3,000 sites by the end of the current year

Safaricom needs 972 more site conversions, roughly 80 per month across FY27. The company added 596 in FY26 at about 50 per month, so the pace must rise by 60%. Management says the FY26 slowdown came from contracting delays it now expects to resolve.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions keep climbing despite solar growth

Possible Resolves by Oct 31, 2027

Discussed by: Safaricom's FY26 report, which states network expansion pressures emissions performance

Safaricom's network keeps growing, and new base stations add diesel and grid load faster than solar conversions remove it. The FY26 report shows Scope 1 and 2 emissions up 9.1% to 56,354 tCO2e, and the company has already acknowledged some interventions moved slower than planned.

Solar rollout misses 3,000-site target on contracting delays

Possible Resolves by Oct 31, 2027

Discussed by: Safaricom's own disclosure, which attributes the FY26 shortfall to contracting delays

If procurement and installation bottlenecks persist, Safaricom could fall short of its 3,000-site pledge. The FY26 report already revised expectations once, and the company is revalidating its science-based targets through FY27. Missing the target would push the 2030 goal of 5,000 sites further out.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2022

Safaricom's off-grid solar pilot (2022)

Safaricom began its solar program with 310 base transmission stations in areas entirely off the national grid. Those sites had depended fully on diesel generators for power.

Then

The pilot proved solar could reliably power network sites, cutting breakdowns tied to generator mechanics.

Now

It became the foundation of a program that now covers 2,028 sites and reduced diesel dependence by 39% across the network.

Why this matters now

Shows the origin of the current rollout and how a diesel-replacement model was proven at small scale before being extended.

2024-2026

Kenya's off-grid solar electrification push (2024-2026)

Kenya's government fast-tracked its Off-Grid Solar Access Project, outlining large-scale clean energy deployments across regional counties, as reported by Construction Review.

Then

Expanded clean energy access to areas beyond the reach of the national grid.

Now

Created a pipeline of solar projects across Kenya that shares supply chains and installation capacity with telecom deployments.

Why this matters now

Safaricom's network solarization mirrors this broader off-grid electrification effort and competes for the same solar equipment and installation contractors.