The government has signed a deal with KCB Group to roll out solar power in schools across the country starting May, in a move aimed at cutting energy costs and improving learning conditions.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed Thursday 2nd April,at CEMASTEA, brings together the State Department for Basic Education and the lender to scale up adoption of clean energy in educational institutions.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the programme builds on a pilot phase conducted in 266 schools, which helped the ministry identify gaps and refine implementation strategies ahead of the national rollout.

“The pilot helped us understand what works and what needs improvement, giving us the confidence to scale up effectively,” said Bitok.

The solarization programme is expected to provide schools with clean, reliable and cost-effective energy, reducing electricity expenses while improving the overall learning environment especially in senior schools where power demand is high.

Under the first phase set to begin in May, at least 3,213 institutions will benefit. The initiative targets more than 9,600 senior schools nationwide in the long term, forming part of a broader plan to transition the education sector to sustainable energy.

KCB Managing Director Annastacia Kimtai was among key stakeholders present during the signing.

The partnership underscores increasing collaboration between the public and private sectors in addressing challenges in the education sector, with a growing focus on green energy solutions.