Off-Grid TV Delivers a New Sense of Security and Community on Kenya’s Coast

By Théo Schuhmacher, Energy Saving Trust, Co-Secretariat of the Efficiency for Access Coalition

Subira lives in a quiet village one hour outside of Malindi, a small town located in Kilifi County, Kenya. As the palm trees sway in the heavy silence of a hot Friday afternoon, one can detect a faint sound coming from the living room. Subira is watching her favourite soap opera with a friend on a small DC television powered by her solar home system (SHS).

When Subari steps outside of her home, there is some evidence of change. As part of its aggressive rural electrification scheme, Kenya’s national electric utility, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), installed electrical poles near Subira’s house, indicating that grid electricity may soon reach her small village. Progress, however, has been slow. Almost one year later, her village remains disconnected from the national grid. Subira’s expectations of a future grid connection are low: “If Kenya Power comes, then it comes”, she says. In the meantime, she relies on the sun to power her TV and light her home.

Thanks to off-grid SHSs, many Kenyans like Subira are now accessing TV programming in their households. Energy-efficient LED TVs have spread rapidly across rural parts of Kenya. According to a Global LEAP survey, televisions are the second most demanded appliance in under-electrified areas after lighting products. Capitalising on this demand, many distributors have integrated televisions in their solar home systems (SHS), alongside lamps.

Since installing her 50W solar home system and 24” Azuri LED television, Subira’s house has become somewhat of a neighbourhood gathering place. Children, friends, and neighbours visit often to watch the news, soccer matches or soap operas. The TV­­ — financed through Global LEAP’s Results-Based Financing program — has also brought a newfound sense of security. Subira used to worry about her teenage son getting into trouble outside of the house. Now, thanks to her SHS and TV, her children can complete their homework and entertain their friends at home. Subira takes comfort in the fact that she knows where her children are and enjoys watching programs like NatGeo and Zuku Swahili with them at night.

For Subira, the benefits of owning a TV extend beyond the value of entertainment. She explained that her TV allows her to get news first-hand and on time. As a result, she feels more informed about what is happening in Kenya and around the world.

Subira’s experience mirrors Azuri’s findings on the impact of televisions. According to Azuri, 98% of surveyed solar TV customers reported feeling more aware of local and international affairs. Ninety-eight percent of respondents also reported that their children were more confident in discussing current topics in school. Finally, 92% of respondents claimed TV ownership helped improve their communication skills.

While TVs can have many social and economic impacts, their penetration in rural Kenya, the highest in East Africa, is estimated at only 18%. Off-grid televisions represent a major emerging commercial opportunity. Unfortunately, high upfront costs and low-quality products remain a barrier to market development. Past Global LEAP Awards competitions have sought to identify and leverage best-in-class televisions as a catalyst for market acceleration. The Efficiency for Access Coalition’s Equip Data tool gives stakeholders the objective data they need to identify and source high-quality off-grid appropriate TVs.

If you enjoyed learning about the impact energy-efficient TVs have had on Subira’s life, be sure to watch the full story in our video.