Solar Panda, a Kenyan provider of solar energy solutions for off-grid communities, has acquired Vitalite Zambia Limited, marking its entry into Southern Africa and its third active market on the continent.
- •The acquisition adds more than 100,000 customers to Solar Panda’s portfolio and expands its operations beyond Kenya and Senegal.
- •Vitalite Zambia, founded in 2013, was the first company to introduce pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) solar home systems in Zambia.
- •Since then, it has built a strong rural customer base, offering solar energy, clean cookstoves, and productive-use appliances across the country.
“This acquisition represents a strategic leap forward for Solar Panda. VITALITE brings a strong brand, an experienced local team, and a deep understanding of the Zambian market,” said Andy Keith, Founder & CEO of Solar Panda.
The acquisition does not include Vitalite Group Limited’s operations in Malawi, which will continue to operate independently. With Vitalite’s established local presence and distribution infrastructure, the Kenyan firm is aiming to scale quickly in Zambia, leveraging its vertically integrated supply chain and solar product offerings.
“By joining forces, we will build upon the foundation that VITALITE has created, introduce Solar Panda’s exceptional products and rapidly grow operations to accelerate our shared mission to deliver clean, affordable energy to more Zambian households,” Keith added.
Solar Panda, headquartered in Nairobi with corporate offices in Toronto, is currently raising a Series B funding round to accelerate its pan-African expansion. The company has stated its long-term goal of reaching millions of households across Africa by 2030.
Founded in 2016 to address energy poverty in underserved regions, Solar Panda designs, manufactures, and finances solar home systems, targeting rural households without access to the electrical grid.