Safaricom announced that 2,028 of its base stations were switched to solar power in the financial year ending March 2026, a 41.6% increase from the 1,432 sites converted in the prior year.

The conversions raise the share of the network powered by renewable energy to 35.7%, according to the company’s 2026 Sustainable Business Report.

Safaricom’s long‑term ambition is to have 5,000 sites running on solar and to supply 95% of its network with green power as part of its net‑zero‑by‑2050 strategy.

Roughly 800 of the FY26 conversions included battery and rectifier upgrades, which the operator says have sped up deployment and improved network reliability.

The programme targets off‑grid locations or areas with unreliable grid supply where diesel generators have traditionally been the only power source.

Safaricom links the shift to both environmental goals and operational risk reduction, noting that power‑related outages remain a significant threat to service availability.

The report acknowledges that solar panels, battery storage and other low‑carbon technologies require substantial upfront spending, with short‑to‑medium‑term capital outlays exceeding KSh 100 million under its Climate Transition Plan.

Looking ahead, Safaricom plans that by 2035 at least 80% of its electricity will be sourced through power‑purchase agreements and renewable‑energy certificates covering data centres and base stations.

Despite the solar gains, Scope 1 and 2 emissions rose 9.1% in FY26 and overall emissions increased by 1%, widening the net environmental value erosion to KSh 6.43 billion.

Safaricom retained a CDP A rating for Climate Change and Supplier Engagement for the second consecutive year and has planted three million trees since the programme began.