Solar financing in Kenya: M-KOPA, Sun King, d.light compared (2026)

Solar lighting and solar home systems have transformed off-grid Kenyan households over the past decade. The financing model that made it possible — Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) — is deeply integrated with M-Pesa: you make a small deposit, take the system home, and repay daily or weekly via M-Pesa paybill. Miss enough payments and the system locks until you catch up. Once you complete payments, the system unlocks permanently and is yours.

The three dominant PAYG solar financiers in Kenya are M-KOPA, Sun King, and d.light. They cover most of the same product categories — basic solar lights, larger home systems with TV and radio, and increasingly solar-powered appliances. Here's how each works and how to choose.

Pay-As-You-Go solar mechanics

The PAYG mechanism that all three companies use:

1. Sign up at an agent or sales rep's visit. Bring ID and proof of income (or community references).
2. Pay deposit — typically KES 1,000-5,000 for basic systems, KES 5,000-15,000 for larger systems.
3. Take the system home. Installation is often included for larger systems (Sun King, M-KOPA). Basic lights are self-install.
4. Daily/weekly repayment via M-Pesa paybill. You receive an SMS reminder a day before each payment is due.
5. System unlocks daily after each successful payment (you receive a code via SMS, enter it on the device).
6. Miss payments and the system locks. Pay catch-up to unlock again.
7. Complete the term and the system is yours permanently — no more payments, no more codes.

M-KOPA solar

M-KOPA is the largest PAYG solar provider in Kenya (and in much of East Africa). Product range:

• M-KOPA Solar 4 — basic 8W system with 3 lights, radio, phone charger. KES 100-150/day for ~12 months.
• M-KOPA Solar 600 — larger system with TV, more lights, fan capacity. KES 200-300/day for 18-24 months.
• M-KOPA Solar Plus — full home system including refrigerator compatibility. KES 300-500/day for 24-36 months.

Total cost typically 30-50% above outright purchase price after all instalments. Repayment paybill: 845845, account = your M-KOPA customer ID.

Sun King

Sun King (formerly d.light's D&B segment) has a similar product range, slightly different price points:

• Sun King Boom — basic 4W system with 3 lights and phone charger. KES 80-120/day for ~9 months.
• Sun King Home 60 — middle-tier with TV, radio, larger lights. KES 150-250/day for 18-24 months.
• Sun King Home 120+ — premium home system with appliance support. KES 250-400/day for 24-30 months.

Sun King has historically had stronger penetration in Western Kenya, Nyanza, and parts of Eastern Kenya. Total cost similar to M-KOPA.

d.light

d.light remains a major player in entry-level solar lighting, particularly in rural Western Kenya. Their PAYG offering is more focused on smaller starter kits than M-KOPA or Sun King:

• d.light A1 — single-light starter. Often subsidized through partnerships, KES 50/day for 6 months.
• d.light larger systems — competitive with Sun King and M-KOPA at similar price points.

The true cost of solar finance

For a basic system that retails for KES 6,000 cash, the financed total typically works out to KES 9,000-12,000. That's 50-100% above cash price.

This sounds painful, but consider the alternative:

• Without solar: kerosene for lighting (KES 30-50/day = KES 11,000-18,000/year).
• Without solar: phone charging at agent (KES 20-30 per charge × 30 days = KES 600-900/month).
• Without solar: candles, batteries, low light hurting children's study.

The financed solar total of KES 9,000-12,000 over 12 months replaces ~KES 12,000+ of kerosene + charging costs in the same period. You break even on month 1, then save meaningfully going forward.

Repayment strategy

Daily repayment is more sustainable than it sounds for low-income households because:

• The amount (KES 50-200/day) is comparable to what they were spending on kerosene.
• Cash income for many rural Kenyan households is daily (selling vegetables, casual labour, market stalls).
• Missing one or two days isn't catastrophic — the system locks but you can catch up.

For monthly-salaried households, the daily structure is awkward. Pay a week or two ahead when salary lands, so you don't need to pay daily.

Hidden costs to watch for

1. Battery replacement. Solar batteries last 3-5 years typically. After your loan completes, eventual battery replacement is your responsibility — KES 5,000-15,000 depending on system size.
2. Damage costs. If the system is damaged during the loan term, repair fees apply. Some lenders bundle insurance into the daily payment; check whether yours does.
3. Late-payment compound fees. Like other asset finance, repeated lockouts add late fees that compound the total cost.
4. Theft. Solar panels are theft targets in some areas. Most providers don't insure against theft — you bear the loss.

When you should pay cash instead

• You have the cash savings.
• You can negotiate 20-30% discount on cash purchase from the agent (they have flexibility on cash deals).
• You're uncertain you'll stay in the same location for the full term — PAYG systems are linked to your registered location.

After you complete payment

Once you finish all instalments:

• The system unlocks permanently. No more SMS codes needed.
• Most providers transfer ownership automatically. Some require you to call customer service to confirm.
• The provider may offer to upgrade you to a larger system — using your repayment history as credit signal. This can be a good deal or a way to keep you in debt; evaluate based on whether you actually need the larger system.
• You're responsible for ongoing maintenance, battery replacement, and any damage.