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Okapi Green
- Year Founded: 2018
- Location: Kakuma Refugee Camp, Nakivale Refugee Camp, Kinakoni Village
- Energy Solutions and Services: Solar home systems, mini-grid
- Thematic Areas of Focus: Renewable energy
- Number of Employees: 22
- Website: www.facebook.com/OkapiGreenEnergy
- Contact: v.amisi@okapigreen.com
Okapi Green’s Impact Story
Okapi Green Energy Limited (OGEL) began from Mbakwa Vasco Hamisi’s entrepreneurial inspiration to harness the power of the sun to create a clean, sustainable and affordable source of electricity for refugee and host communities living around Kakuma Refugee Settlement. In 2018, Vasco established Okapi Green and formed joint venture OkRene Energy with developer Renewvia Energy to launch a 20kW solar mini-grid, which now provides reliable electricity to over 200 households and businesses. The project has expanded power availability and reduced dependency on diesel generators and traditional fuel sources in Kakuma Refugee Camp.
In addition to operating the mini-grid, Okapi Green distributes solar home systems (SHS) for off-grid households, further extending electricity access to underserved communities. It currently sells systems that include two 900W solar panels and a 1kWh lithium-ion battery, which can be paid for in installments. The increased energy access among Kakuma residents has supported the development of new income-generating activities and improvements in quality of life.
Aiming to empower the next generation with the skills and tools needed to thrive in the green energy sector, Okapi Green also launched a Solar Vocational Training Program. To date, over 1,000 young people, with a focus on young women, have received training in solar installation, maintenance and entrepreneurship.
To date, Okapi Green has enabled improved energy access for more than 1,200 individuals both directly and indirectly, reduced environmental degradation through decreased charcoal use, and created both technical and sales jobs for Kakuma community members.
Success Factors
Okapi Green’s success can be attributed to a combination of strategic, operational, and community-centric factors:
- Hybrid energy delivery model – The company’s hybrid energy delivery model combining mini-grid operations and solar distribution allows it to serve both centrally located and remote customers.
- Strong community trust – Okapi Green is operated from within Kakuma refugee camp and is founded and staffed by community members. This has helped the company build trust and forge authentic relationships with its customer base.
- Youth empowerment through training – The Solar Vocational Training Program has created a skilled local workforce, increasing the company’s capacity for installation, maintenance, and outreach.
- Strategic partnerships – Partners including EDP, US African Development Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, Renewvia Energy, and several organizations within Kakuma have provided funding, training tools, and implementation support at pivotal moments in Okapi Green’s growth journey.
- Sustainability through revenue generation – Income generated from electricity and SHS sales reduce reliance on donor funding, which remains essential to ensuring affordability.
Future Plans and Support Needs
With its community-driven model and proven ability to create impact, Okapi Green is well-positioned to scale its innovations for even greater transformation. Okapi Green aims to deepen its impact across refugee and host communities in the coming years by expanding its mini-grid to serve more households and small businesses as well as increasing the distribution of SHS to more remote areas. Building on the benefits of increased electricity access in Kakuma, OGEP is planning to launch an e-cooking initiative to reduce community dependence on charcoal and firewood. Between 2024 and 2026, the company will also continue rolling out the “From Sun to Success” program, which aims to train 900 youth (with a target for 70% of participants being young women) in solar installation, entrepreneurship and job readiness.
To achieve these plans, Okapi Green is seeking to raise $500,000 in new funding through a mix of grants, equity, and loans to support growth and infrastructure investments. OGEL is also looking to forge relationships with technology providers, particularly those focused on e-cooking, SHS, and digital payment systems for SHS clients. Finally, the company seeks partners who can help it advocate for the inclusion and acknowledgement of refugee energy entrepreneurs in national development and electrification strategies.
About the Founder
Mbakwa Vasco Hamisi is a Congolese refugee who fled conflict in the DRC in 2010 and has since lived in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in northwestern Kenya. With a background in electrical engineering and a passion for community service, Vasco has experienced firsthand the daily challenges that refugees face, particularly the lack of reliable electricity. His personal journey in displacement inspired him to become a social entrepreneur delivering clean, affordable and impactful solar energy solutions within Kakuma and Nakivale refugee settlements and the surrounding host communities.
Media Resources
- Report: Okapi Green Impact Report 2024
- Video: Kenya Refugee Helps Supply Camp with Clean Energy
- Video: Vasco Hamisi - Okapi Green Energy
- Video: Congolese Refugee Powers Kenyan Camp with Solar Plant
- Article: Solar Power is Improving the Lives of Millions of Refugees
- Video: Congolese Refugee Pioneers Renewable Energy Solution in Kenya's Kakuma Refugee Camp
