(Left to Right) 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
By Bruno Aero News Desk Family Media
NAIROBI, October 6, 2026.
Unilever East Africa has stepped up efforts to cut its carbon footprint and lower energy costs at its Nairobi factory after investing KSh70 million in a new solar power installation.
The 800kW solar system is expected to supply approximately 30 per cent of the factory’s electricity requirements, reducing the facility’s reliance on conventional power sources while improving the efficiency and resilience of its operations.
These investment forms part of Unilever’s broader decarbonisation strategy, aimed at reducing operational emissions, managing energy costs and strengthening the resilience of its supply chain.
Mr Ochieng said the solar project demonstrates the role private-sector investment can play in accelerating Kenya’s transition towards cleaner energy while supporting more efficient and sustainable local manufacturing.
Shift From Fossil Fuels
Unilever said its decarbonisation programme will enter another phase as the company plans to shift hot-air generation at the Nairobi factory from heavy fuel oil (HFO) to biomass-based fuels.
The planned transition is expected to further reduce the factory’s dependence on fossil fuels and contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions from its manufacturing operations.
The move comes as businesses across Kenya face growing pressure to control energy costs while responding to the need for cleaner and more resilient production systems.
For Unilever, the solar investment and planned switch to biomass are part of efforts to make its manufacturing operations more sustainable while maintaining reliable production.
Mr Ochieng emphasize the company is focused improving energy efficiency and diversifying its energy sources will also help protect its supply chain from energy-related disruptions and rising operating costs.
Supporting Kenya’s
Clean-Energy Transition
The investment comes at a time when Kenya continues to expand its renewable-energy capacity, with clean power increasingly playing a central role in the country’s energy mix.
Unilever’s Nairobi factory project highlights how industrial companies can combine sustainability investments with business efficiency by adopting renewable energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
The company expects the continued rollout of clean-energy solutions at its facility to contribute to its long-term environmental goals while supporting the competitiveness of its Kenyan manufacturing operations.
with the planned transition from HFO to biomass-based fuels, Unilever is positioning its Nairobi factory for further reductions in fossil-fuel consumption as it advances its wider decarbonisation programme.
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