In Kenyan boarding schools, a nationwide lighting upgrade is transforming how 86,000 students study, live, and thrive, with cleaner, safer, and more cost-efficient energy.
In partnership with UNEP, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and the Kenyan Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, a far-reaching initiative has brought 17,000 energy-efficient LED lights and 767 solar floodlights to schools across Kenya. For over 86,000 students in boarding schools, this is more than a lighting upgrade, it’s a chance to reclaim learning time, safety, and opportunity.
In many of these schools, unreliable lighting limited students’ ability to study after dark. “Right now, lack of light is a limiting factor, both in the evenings and in the mornings,” shares Nyakundi, a student whose school switches off electricity at 10 p.m. to cut costs. The inability to read, write, or revise in the early morning or late evening has placed students at a significant disadvantage.
Now, with the installation of high-efficiency LED lighting and solar-powered floodlights, students can safely move around campus and study after sunset, while administrators see a brighter financial outlook. The switch is expected to lower electricity bills by 24%, saving approximately USD 213,000 annually, resources that schools can reinvest into essential items like books, sports equipment, or teacher training.
Replacing outdated incandescent and fluorescent lighting with LEDs will also cut 460 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, advancing Kenya’s commitment to clean energy while supporting students' futures.
