Kenyan off-grid solar energy provider Sun King has raised a $40 million equity investment from global sustainable investment platform Lightrock, the company confirmed in a funding announcement this month. The capital is set to accelerate Sun King’s expansion of decentralised solar systems and product development across Africa and Asia.
The Nairobi-based firm, which operates a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) distribution model for solar home systems and appliances, will deploy the new equity to strengthen its installation and service infrastructure while broadening its product pipeline to meet rising demand in underserved regions.
Sun King’s offerings range from basic solar kits for household lighting and phone charging to multi-kilowatt inverter systems capable of powering larger homes, schools and health facilities in areas with limited or no grid access. The company’s integrated model combines solar generation, energy-efficient appliances, installation services and consumer financing, often enabling access for customers at approximately $0.15–$0.20 per day.
Since its founding in 2007, Sun King has delivered over 29 million solar products worldwide and supported $1.4 billion in customer financing, helping expand access to clean energy in markets where traditional infrastructure remains limited.
Chief Executive and Co-Founder T. Patrick Walsh said the company has scaled from delivering about 10,000 solar kits per month in 2017 to more than 330,000 each month today, with ambitions to reach one million monthly installations by 2030 to serve an estimated 200 million people.
In addition to product and operational expansion, the funding will support growth of Sun King’s retail footprint and field agent network, which the company aims to scale significantly in the coming years to deepen market penetration across its footprint of roughly 11 African countries.
Lightrock’s investment reflects continued investor confidence in decentralised energy solutions as critical components of closing electricity access gaps in emerging markets, where millions still lack reliable power connections.
The equity round follows Sun King’s $156 million securitisation deal in Kenya earlier in 2025, a landmark financing move that bundled future PAYG customer revenues into a tradable asset, underscoring the company’s evolving capital strategy as it moves toward greater scale and institutional backing.
Read more on Tech Gist Africa:
Enzi Mobility, a Kenyan electric mobility startup, has secured US $3.5 million in funding.
Farm to Feed, Kenyan Agritech Startup, Raises a US$1.5 Million Seed Round
