(Left to Right) Richard Bogita, Supply Chain Director, Unilever East & West Africa; MD, Unilever East Africa MD Luck Ochieng and Unilever’s 1UL Supply Chain Head João F. Ribeiro, unveil the company’s new 800kW solar installation at its Nairobi factory. PHOTO | COURTESY

The 800-kilowatt system, which became operational in June 2026, is expected to supply about 30 per cent of the factory’s electricity needs.

The company says the investment, combined with an earlier switch from heavy fuel oil to biomass for its boilers, has helped reduce emissions at the plant by about 40 per cent compared with 2023 levels.

Unilever says the shift to renewable energy is also intended to make its manufacturing operations less vulnerable to fluctuations in conventional energy costs.

“Investments like this make our operations more resilient and more competitive while reducing our reliance on conventional energy,” said João F. Ribeiro, Unilever’s 1UL Supply Chain Head.

“The Nairobi factory is an important part of our manufacturing footprint, and this project shows how local action can contribute to our wider climate ambitions,” he added.

The company’s East Africa leadership attended the unveiling of the installation on Monday, October 12, including Managing Director Luck Ochieng and regional supply chain executives.

Elodie Kouassi, Head of Supply Chain for East Africa excluding Ethiopia, said the investment was intended to deliver both environmental and commercial benefits.

“This investment demonstrates that sustainability and strong business performance can advance together,” Kouassi said.

“By increasing renewable energy use at our Nairobi factory, we are reducing operational emissions, managing energy costs and strengthening the resilience of our supply chain."

Unilever says it plans to further reduce the factory’s reliance on fossil fuels by switching hot-air generation from heavy fuel oil to biomass-based fuels.

The investment comes amid Kenya’s continued expansion of renewable energy, with manufacturers increasingly exploring alternative power sources to manage costs and reduce emissions.