(L-R ) Richard Bogita, Supply Chain Director, Unilever East & West Africa; Luck Ochieng, Managing Director, Unilever East Africa; and João F. Ribeiro, Unilever’s 1UL Supply Chain Head, unveil the company’s new 800kW solar installation at its Nairobi factory. The facility is expected to provide approximately 30% of the plant’s electricity needs and deliver annual energy cost savings of about KES 30 million (approximately US$230,000).
By Peace Muthoka
NAIROBI, Tuesday, October 6, 2026, — Unilever has invested KSh70 million in an 800kW solar power installation at its Nairobi factory, with the project expected to provide about 30 per cent of the plant’s electricity and deliver annual energy savings of approximately KSh30 million.
The solar system became operational in June 2026 and is part of the company’s efforts to increase renewable energy use, reduce dependence on conventional fuels and make its manufacturing operations more resilient.
Unilever announced the investment on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, saying the Nairobi factory has also recorded a significant reduction in carbon emissions following the shift to cleaner energy sources.
According to the company, the solar installation, together with an earlier conversion of the factory’s boilers from heavy fuel oil (HFO) to biomass, has helped reduce emissions at the site by about 40 per cent compared with its 2023 baseline.
The company said the move is expected not only to reduce emissions but also to make energy costs more predictable and support a more resilient manufacturing operation.
The investment comes as more businesses in Kenya turn to solar power for their own electricity needs. Recent industry data shows that businesses increased their own solar generation capacity by 72,800kW in the year to June 2026, as companies seek to reduce energy costs and improve the reliability of their power supply.
Unilever’s Nairobi project forms part of a wider programme to increase renewable energy use across its manufacturing sites and reduce reliance on conventional energy sources.
João F. Ribeiro, Unilever’s 1UL Supply Chain Head, unveiled the solar installation during a ceremony at the Nairobi factory, describing the project as an investment in both the company’s operations and its wider climate ambitions.
“Investments like this make our operations more resilient and more competitive while reducing our reliance on conventional energy,” Ribeiro said.
“The Nairobi factory is an important part of our manufacturing footprint, and this project shows how local action can contribute to our wider climate ambitions.”
The ceremony was attended by Luck Ochieng, Managing Director for Unilever East Africa, Richard Bogita, Head of Supply Chain, East and West Africa, Elodie Kouassi, Head of Supply Chain, East Africa excluding Ethiopia, and members of Unilever’s Business Operations Leadership Team.
Kouassi said the project demonstrates how sustainability investments can also support business performance.
“This investment demonstrates that sustainability and strong business performance can advance together,” she said.
“By increasing renewable energy use at our Nairobi factory, we are reducing operational emissions, managing energy costs and strengthening the resilience of our supply chain.”
The company is also preparing for the next phase of its decarbonisation programme at the factory. This will involve shifting hot-air generation from heavy fuel oil to biomass-based fuels, further reducing the plant’s dependence on fossil fuels.
The move builds on Unilever’s wider strategy of increasing renewable energy in its operations. Globally, the company reported that renewable electricity accounted for 88 per cent of its electricity consumption in 2025, while it continues to explore renewable thermal energy sources, including biofuels, solar and geothermal energy.
For the Nairobi factory, the latest investment combines renewable energy generation with efforts to improve operational efficiency and reduce long-term energy costs.
The KSh70 million solar project also highlights the growing role of private-sector investment in Kenya’s clean-energy transition, as manufacturers seek ways to manage energy costs while lowering the environmental impact of their operations.
With the solar installation already operational and another shift towards biomass planned, Unilever said the Nairobi factory is continuing to move towards cleaner and more resilient manufacturing.
