NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 6 – M-KOPA Solar has signed a deal with Safaricom to stock its solar powered television kits at the communication company’s retail outlets. The deal will see the televisions
The deal will see the televisions distributed at Safaricom retail shops beginning this month, bringing the total retail distribution for M-KOPA’s TV systems to over 100 outlets.
Since their introduction to the market M-KOPA Solar has connected over 25,000 households, bringing
television ownership to a new off-grid market. According to a 2015 research study, 80% of M-KOPA
According to a 2015 research study, 80 percent of M-KOPA customers had never previously envisioned owning a television.
“It’s great to visit Kenyan families who never thought they’d have the power or the finances to own a television. Now they can access a whole world of news and entertainment across up to 30 channels. This retail and distribution deal builds on our five-year partnership with Safaricom to extend life changing services across Kenya and the African continent,” said Jesse Moore, Chief Executive Officer at M-KOPA.
The televisions were launched in February 2016 and are included in the 20W version of M-KOPA’s solar
home system, which also provides, lights, charging and radio primarily for off-grid homes.
The system can be purchased using M-KOPA’s pay-as-you-go model, which in this case involves placing a down payment of Sh7,900 followed by daily payments of Sh125 via M-PESA for one year.
Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore says M-KOPA is a perfect example of the transformative nature of M-PESA, which has inspired new ways to provide access to essential services.
“By leveraging on our partnership to increase distribution of the solar TV sets, we are empowering millions of Kenyans to affordably own a TV, and in that way access information in a way that was previously not easily available to them.”
To begin with, the television sets will be available at the following Safaricom shops: Kisumu Mega, Kisumu Jubilee, Eldoret, Kakamega, Nakuru, Kericho, Malindi, Bungoma, Meru, Machakos and Moi Avenue (Nairobi).
