Nairobi, Kenya– The Co-operative University of Kenya (CUK) is set to break new ground in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure through a proposed 40-megawatt (MW) solar power project.
The initiative, part of a flagship Chancellor Legacy Program, was discussed during a high-level meeting between the university’s Chancellor, Dr. Ben Chitunga, and senior executives from China’s Shandong Dahai Group, including Dahai Solar CEO Liu Dejie.
The solar project, which aims to connect directly to Kenya’s National Grid, is designed to secure long-term financial sustainability for the university while positioning CUK as a leader in clean energy production, applied research, and green innovation.
Once operational, it will be the first public university in Kenya to implement a project of this scale, offering low-cost renewable energy and contributing to Kenya’s broader climate action goals.
“This partnership underscores the university’s ambition to evolve into a Green University and Innovation Hub,” said Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, highlighting the initiative’s alignment with national priorities on renewable energy, industrial skills development, and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. Implementation of the project is targeted for early 2026.
Met with the Chancellor of the Co-operative University of Kenya, Dr. @benchitunga, alongside senior executives from China’s Shandong Dahai Group, Dahai Solar, led by Group CEO Mr. Liu Dejie, to deliberate on a flagship Chancellor Legacy Program, a proposed 40MW solar power
Shandong Dahai Group, a state-linked Chinese enterprise with over 30 years of experience in manufacturing and renewable energy, brings technical expertise, vertically integrated manufacturing capacity, and long-term project financing strength to the initiative.
Dahai Solar’s involvement positions the project as a potential model for university-led sustainable infrastructure development, both in Kenya and across Africa.
The Chancellor Legacy Program is expected to not only reduce operational costs for the university but also serve as a hub for research, innovation, and practical training in renewable energy, providing students and faculty with direct exposure to cutting-edge green technology solutions.
