KawiSafi Ventures has invested $2 million in Orb Energy to support the expansion of the company’s commercial and industrial (C&I) solar business across East Africa.
The investment has been ring-fenced for Orb Energy’s Africa operations and will support the company’s growing project pipeline in Kenya and the wider East African region.
Founded in Bengaluru in 2006, Orb Energy operates across India and Kenya and has in-house solar panel manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru. Its African operations are headquartered in Nairobi. The company provides solar systems and financing solutions to C&I customers across sectors including manufacturing, agro-processing, healthcare and hospitality.
Orb Energy has installed close to 15 MW of rooftop solar capacity for more than 60 C&I customers in East Africa. The new capital will support projects as they progress from development and contracting through construction and commissioning.
The company offers customers the option to purchase solar systems outright or access financing structures designed to reduce upfront capital requirements.
Amar Inamdar, Managing Director at KawiSafi Ventures, said the investment will support Orb Energy as it expands its project pipeline and mobilises additional capital for solar deployment across the region.
Damian Miller, Co-founder and CEO of Orb Energy, said the company plans to use the investment to expand its regional footprint, strengthen its local team and build partnerships with financiers to increase solar adoption among commercial and industrial businesses in Africa.
KawiSafi Ventures said businesses across East Africa continue to face high energy costs and unreliable power supply, creating opportunities for distributed solar solutions. However, access to capital remains a key requirement as projects move through development, procurement, construction and commissioning.
The investment was made through KawiSafi Ventures’ second fund, which focuses on Africa’s climate economy, including energy transition, clean transportation and green productivity.
KawiSafi Ventures was established by Acumen to manage its for-profit climate investment strategy in Africa. Its second fund announced $90 million in approved capital in late 2025, building on the predecessor fund, a $67 million clean energy fund launched in 2016.
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