SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; KENYA
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Solar lamps.
Learn more about the Solar Lamp Challenge and how these lamps create enormous benefits for developing world families.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
Only 16% of Kenyans have access to the electric grid. Families living in rural households are faced with many challenges in accessing electricity. These families also face challenges in accessing solar energy including affordability, awareness, and access to technical support services.
Solar Mashinani will address these barriers by creating a chain of branded portable kiosks located within rural target markets. The kiosks will be manned by agents trained in sales and marketing. Agents will be well-versed in troubleshooting, repair and maintenance of solar lamps. These kiosks will offer solar lanterns on a cash basis and on a pay-as-you-go model where customers can make a modest up-front payment of between $2 and $12 at the time of purchase, and make additional weekly payments of as low as $2 for a total of four to ten weeks. Using the Angaza system, customers will be able to pay off the balance on their laps via secure mobile payments to challenge the common problem of high up front costs. The kiosks will offer after sales-services including but not limited to lantern repair and replacement.
Solar Mashinani will challenge the status quo of poor quality and support established by other solar lamp providers by enabling customers to make payments according to their income, purchase products in their communities, access after-sales services, engage with sales agents they know because they live in the communities they serve.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
- Distribute solar lamps to 1,250 households during the pilot
- Distribute solar lamps to 8,600 households by the end of year 1
- Distribute solar lamps to 23,400 households by the end of year 2
FOUNDING TEAM
Charles Omondi Ogingo - Chief Executive Officer
Peter Gombe - Technical Adviser
Robert Achoge - Finance and Administration Officer