Solar energy giant Sun King is launching its first large-scale manufacturing facility in Africa, starting in Kenya with plans to open a second in Nigeria — a major step toward local production, job creation, and sustainable industrial growth across the continent.
The details
- The Kenya facility will produce up to 700,000 units per year, beginning with solar-powered TVs and smartphones.
- A second facility in Nigeria will follow, part of a long-term plan to expand into more product lines.
- Each facility will hire locally and include skills and training programs to strengthen technical capacity.
- By manufacturing locally, Sun King expects to cut logistics costs, lower emissions, and make its products more accessible.
Why it matters
Africa accounts for just 2% of global manufacturing value added, and fewer than 1 in 10 workers in Sub-Saharan Africa are employed in manufacturing.
Sun King’s investment aims to change that equation by building a regional supply chain that keeps more value and jobs on the continent.
What they’re saying
“These facilities allow us to harness Africa’s talent and ingenuity to keep delivering affordable, high-quality products.” — T. Patrick Walsh, CEO and Co-Founder, Sun King
“This milestone is a symbol of growing confidence in Kenya’s local manufacturing.” — Dr. Juma Mukhwana, Principal Secretary, Kenya’s State Department of Industry
“We’re enhancing incentives for local manufacturing to accelerate a self-sustaining renewable energy market.” — Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria
The big picture
The solar industry is one of Africa’s fastest-growing job creators, driven by the continent’s soaring demand for affordable clean energy.
Sun King — already employing nearly 40,000 people globally, 99% of them in Africa and Asia — delivers over 330,000 solar kits monthly, up from just 10,000 in 2017.
Between the lines
Sun King’s expansion reflects a broader shift among global energy and tech players to manufacture closer to their African markets, strengthening supply chains and reducing import dependence.
The bottom line
“Opening our own facility gives us scale, flexibility, and a foundation to grow a resilient manufacturing ecosystem here in Africa.” — Kota Kojima, COO, Sun King
Learn more about other African tech startups on Labari Insights, our data repository for tech in Africa: insights.techlabari.com
