A solar light that birthed a new idea

For Mr.Tonnybright Kinape, a 23-year-old from Tana River County, the journey with solar energy began out of academic necessity. Studying late into the night with a solar-powered reading light sparked curiosity among his peers and an idea was born.

Sensing a business opportunity, he connected with a KOSAP-supported company that deals with solar  products and began sourcing solar  kits for individual customers — earning  commissions along the way. Motivated to learn more, he trained in installing systems tailored to customer needs.

After graduating, he moved into a  modest house in Hola Town and bought  a comprehensive solar kit to support his  daily life. The kit included a solar panel,  battery, 32-inch TV with decoder and  receiver dish, radio, bulbs, tube lights,  and a torch.

“I was living in Ngombeni where there was no electricity. The solar solution was perfect—it was affordable, and the daily payments made budgeting easy,” he says. “I paid a deposit of Kshs. 10,000 and daily instalments of Kshs. 165 for 600 days.”

Even after relocating to a house that is connected to electricity, he relied on his solar kit, particularly during power outages. Neighbours took notice— and demand grew. 
Eventually, Mr. Kinape became the area sales representative for the solar  company in Hola, establishing his own branded outlet with product displays and promotional and outreach  materials such as tents and desks. “I paid a deposit  of Kshs. 10,000  and daily  instalments of  Kshs. 165 for  600 days,” says  Mr. Kinape. 
“This opportunity has allowed me to grow professionally and support the adoption of solar energy products in my community,” says Mr. Kinape.