Kenya’s Solar Panda Expands into Southern Africa with Acquisition of Zambia’s Vitalite

Kenyan solar energy startup Solar Panda has entered the Southern African market through the acquisition of Vitalite Zambia Limited.

The deal adds over 100,000 new customers to Solar Panda’s existing base, significantly boosting its presence in Africa, which previously included operations in Kenya and Senegal.

“This acquisition represents a strategic leap forward for Solar Panda,” said Andy Keith, Solar Panda’s Founder and CEO. “Vitalite brings a strong brand, an experienced local team, and a deep understanding of the Zambian market.”

Founded in 2016, Solar Panda provides solar home systems designed for rural households that lack access to electricity, combining design, manufacturing, and financing under one roof.

Vitalite Zambia, established in 2013, was the first company to launch pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) solar systems in Zambia. It has built a robust network serving rural communities with solar lighting, clean cookstoves, and appliances designed for productive use. Its Malawian operations, run by Vitalite Group Limited, are not part of the acquisition and will continue independently.

“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.

Through leveraging Vitalite’s distribution infrastructure and local expertise, Solar Panda aims to accelerate its rollout in Zambia. The company plans to introduce its solar product line and scale operations rapidly, utilizing its vertically integrated model to lower costs and increase impact.

Headquartered in Nairobi and with corporate offices in Toronto, Solar Panda is currently in the midst of raising a Series B funding round to support its expansion goals.