Solaire Africa today officially opened its Nairobi headquarters and confirmed Kenya as the hub for its expansion across the African continent. The launch establishes a permanent base for a solar power solutions company backed by 28 years of power systems manufacturing experience and 3.5MW already installed across Kenya.
From its new offices in Westlands, the company will oversee regional sales, system design and after-sales support for East Africa, building on an already established presence across the country. Kenya now joins India as one of Solaire’s two operational hubs and will serve as the base from which the company intends to expand across Africa.
Solaire’s journey began in India in 1998 and has since grown into a global enterprise with 28 years of manufacturing expertise, a 200,000-square-foot production facility, in-house research and development capabilities, and operations in more than 14 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Tanzania and the United States.
Its products were engineered specifically to address grid instability challenges common in many emerging markets, rather than being adapted to them later.
The Nairobi launch comes at a time when Kenyan businesses and households are increasingly turning to solar power and energy storage solutions to manage electricity costs and mitigate disruptions caused by grid instability.
Solaire Africa enters the market as a comprehensive solar solutions provider, offering a full range of products under one umbrella, including solar inverters, lithium battery storage systems, Tier-1 solar panels, solar water heaters and balance-of-system components required to complete installations ranging from individual homes to utility-scale projects.
Installation and on-site execution in Kenya will be carried out through trusted Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) partners, while Solaire will retain responsibility for its 10-year manufacturer warranty.
The company’s footprint in Kenya is already significant, with 3.5MW installed across residential, commercial and industrial projects before the establishment of its permanent Nairobi headquarters.
Speaking during the launch, Solaire Chairman Muhamed Ali Chenangadan said the move reflects a long-standing commitment rather than a newly discovered opportunity.
“We did not come to Kenya to sell boxes. The power challenges this country faces today are the same challenges we set out to solve in 1998. Twenty-eight years of power systems manufacturing have taught us one thing above all: engineer products to last and stand behind them. Nairobi is now the second home of that promise,” he said.
Solaire Africa CEO and Director Mohammed Rinas Chenangadan said the Nairobi office is designed to support the company’s long-term continental ambitions.
“Kenya is not a test market for us. It is the platform for everything that follows across the continent. We bring the complete solution and a long-term guarantee. Trusted partners deliver installations on the ground, while the 10-year warranty remains our responsibility. That is the model we are scaling from this office,” he said.
Solaire Africa Director Gourab Sarkar announced plans to invest in local skills development through nationwide training programmes.
“We will conduct training programmes across the country where engineers can enrol, gain hands-on product knowledge and receive certification upon completion. Eligible candidates will be absorbed into Solaire Africa and deployed in upcoming projects under our payroll.
We want to develop more professionals as demand for solar projects continues to grow, along with the need for skilled manpower. Solaire Africa’s product portfolio includes off-grid, hybrid and on-grid solutions for residential, commercial and utility-scale applications. We also offer free design services, technical consultation and both on-site and off-site technical support for our products,” he said.
The launch event was held at the Mövenpick Hotel in Nairobi and attended by leaders from Kenya’s business and diaspora communities.
Chief Guest Amardeep Barnawal was joined by Guests of Honour Sujata Kotamraju, Chairperson of the Hindu Council of Kenya, and Abhishek Rana, Chairman of the India Kenya Chamber of Commerce.
Their presence underscored the growing commercial ties between Kenya and India, a relationship that continues to support Solaire Africa’s expansion strategy.
