While grid coverage in Kenya at first sight appears relatively high in comparison to other sub-Saharan countries, reaching roughly 54% of the country’s population, the gap between electricity access among urban and rural households is wide and less than 20% of the rural population has access to the electricity grid. 2018) for what has internationally been agreed upon as a minimum level of ‘affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all’ (SDG 7). Here, under the auspices of the United Nation’s (UN’s) sustainable development goals (SDGs), national and international start-ups, investors, government agencies and NGOs engaged in the solar industry, are in the business to sell devices that are light, inexpensive, portable and minimal (Collier et al. Nairobi, frequently also referred to as the ‘silicon savannah’, has become a hotspot for digital innovation with a lively start-up scene. Kenya has one of the largest markets for solar off-grid products in Africa, due in part to a favourable regulatory environment, effective government policies, and the high prevalence of smartphones that has gradually made Kenya into a favourite launchpad for mobile money-based services, including widespread availability of pay-as-you-go solutions, which offer an effective means for people to finance the purchase of solar products.

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