KawiSafi Ventures Invests $2 Million in Orb Energy for East African Expansion

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct. 1, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- KawiSafi Ventures has invested $2 million in Orb Energy to support the expansion of the company's commercial and industrial (C&I) solar business across East Africa. This investment aims to bolster Orb's project pipeline and enhance its ability to deliver projects as it expands its operations in the region.

Orb Energy, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, provides solar systems and financing solutions to commercial and industrial customers across various sectors, including manufacturing, agro-processing, healthcare, and hospitality. The company's model allows businesses to adopt solar through a combination of outright purchases and financing structures that reduce upfront capital requirements. As of now, Orb has installed close to 15 MW of rooftop solar in East Africa, serving more than 60 C&I customers.

The investment from KawiSafi Ventures comes at a time when the economics of renewable energy are improving, but financing remains a significant factor in the cost and viability of projects in emerging and developing markets. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Africa recorded a 68 percent reduction in total installed costs for utility-scale renewable power between 2015 and 2024. However, financing costs accounted for a larger share of renewable energy costs in Africa compared to Europe, reflecting higher perceived risk and macroeconomic conditions.

For C&I solar businesses, access to capital is particularly important because projects require financing through development, procurement, construction, and commissioning. KawiSafi's investment provides Orb with the necessary growth capital to support the expansion of its regional footprint, build its local team, and strengthen partnerships with financiers to solarize more commercial and industrial establishments in Africa.

The investment was made through KawiSafi Ventures' second fund, which builds on the experience of its predecessor, a $67 million clean energy fund launched in 2016. The second KawiSafi fund, which announced $90 million in approved capital in late 2025, extends Acumen's approach to backing growth-stage businesses that can build markets and scale solutions addressing climate and economic challenges in underserved markets. Anchor investors include the Green Climate Fund and Schmidt Family Foundation, with funding from Quadrature Climate Foundation.

Orb Energy, founded in 2006, is a vertically integrated company with its own solar panel manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, India. The company provides rooftop and ground-mounted solar systems, solar plus battery storage, and financing solutions for commercial and industrial customers. Orb Energy has installed more than 400 MW of solar capacity and aims to reach 1 GW before 2030.