Twenty-three young women have officially entered Kenya's renewable energy sector as certified technicians after graduating from the KAWI Green Africa programme on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The graduation ceremony, held at the Green Africa Foundation grounds in Kitui County, marked the culmination of months of intensive training in the installation and maintenance of solar home systems and clean cookstoves at the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) in Athi River.

This initiative, sponsored by the Green Africa Foundation, is a strategic intervention designed to bridge critical gender and energy access gaps in the country. Speaking at the event, Dr. Isaac Kalua, Chief Steward of the Green Africa Foundation, described the graduates as "the new architects of Kenya's clean energy future." He emphasized that empowering women with green skills translates to empowering entire communities, positioning them as ambassadors of change who will light up homes and protect the environment.

The program directly confronts the underrepresentation of women in Kenya's decentralized solar energy sector. Dr. Kalua highlighted the need to scale up women's technical participation and called on national and county governments, alongside development partners, to support similar initiatives nationwide.

Addressing a National Skills Gap and Energy Demand

The graduation comes at a critical time for Kenya's energy landscape. The nation has made significant strides in increasing electricity access, with rates rising from 37% in 2013 to 79% in 2023. However, significant disparities remain, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Off-grid solar solutions are a cornerstone of the government's strategy to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, with one in five Kenyan households already utilizing solar-powered mini-grids or standalone systems. This burgeoning market has created a substantial demand for skilled technicians, a demand this new cohort of graduates is now equipped to meet.

Hellen Ndegwa, a director at NITA, affirmed that the skills acquired by the graduates meet both local and international standards, empowering them not merely as job seekers but as "job innovators and creators." The training provided by NITA, a national body for industrial training, ensures the technicians are prepared for accreditation and licensing, a crucial step for professional practice in the sector.

Government Policy and the Drive for Renewables

The KAWI Green Africa programme aligns with a robust framework of government policies promoting renewable energy. The Energy Act of 2019 provides a comprehensive legal structure for the sector, while initiatives like the Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP) specifically target remote communities. Furthermore, the government has incentivized the adoption of solar technology through tax exemptions on solar equipment and the enforcement of the Energy (Solar Water Heating) Regulations, 2012, which mandate solar water heating systems in certain buildings. These policies have cultivated a thriving market for solar home systems, making Kenya a leader in the East African off-grid solar market.

Despite this progress, challenges in affordability and the high cost of improved cookstoves persist for many households. Dr. Kalua's call for the government to allocate more resources for clean cooking underscores the need for continued financial and policy support to ensure these technologies reach the households that need them most. The newly graduated technicians are expected to play a vital role in this ecosystem, not only by installing systems but also by championing the use of eco-friendly solutions that reduce household air pollution and deforestation.

Organizations like Women in Sustainable Energy and Entrepreneurship (WISEe) and the Association of Women in Energy, Kenya (AWEIK) have been pivotal in advocating for and providing technical skills to women, aiming to close the gender gap in a traditionally male-dominated industry. The graduation of the 23 technicians from the KAWI program represents a tangible outcome of this broader movement, contributing a skilled, female workforce ready to accelerate Kenya's sustainable development goals.