Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has announced another major undertaking for renewable energy in Kenya following a meeting with Dr. Bernard Chitunga, Chancellor of the Co-operative University of Kenya, and senior leaders from China’s Shandong Dahai Group, including Group CEO Mr. Liu Dejie.
Key on their deliberations, during the meeting, is the proposed Chancellor Legacy Program, which seeks to develop a 40MW solar power project designed to integrate with the National Grid through a groundbreaking financing and production model.
The initiative seeks to secure long-term financial sustainability for the Co-operative University of Kenya through a Power Purchase Agreement, positioning the institution as a leader in clean energy production, applied research, and green innovation.
“Once implemented, this partnership will mark a first for a public university in Kenya, enabling low-cost renewable energy production at scale, directly connected to the National Grid, and reinforcing the university’s ambition to evolve into a Green University and Innovation Hub,” Mudavadi noted in a statement.
The prime CS said the proposed project also aligns with Kenya’s national priorities, including affordable renewable energy, climate action, industrial skills development, and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, with implementation slated for early 2026.
Shandong Dahai Group, a Chinese enterprise with over 30 years of global expertise in manufacturing and renewable energy across Asia, Europe, and Africa, will spearhead the initiative through its renewable energy division, Dahai Solar.
“Through its renewable energy arm, Dahai Solar, the group brings deep technical expertise, vertically integrated manufacturing capability, and long-term project financing strength, positioning this initiative as a potential reference model for university-led sustainable infrastructure development in Kenya and beyond,” noted Mudavadi
