A mobile network is a sprawling physical system. Safaricom runs thousands of base stations across Kenya, many in places where the grid is weak or absent, and for years diesel generators kept them on air. The company’s plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 depends largely on replacing that diesel.
What the company has reported
Safaricom’s 2025 Sustainable Business Report, published in October 2025, said 1,432 base stations had been converted to solar and 2.3 million trees planted. The company has set a target of 5,000 solar-powered sites by 2030, with 95% of its network running on green energy. Its 2026 annual report, as summarised by the sustainability reporting database SustainabilityReports.com, cites 2,002 solar-powered sites and green energy supplying 35% of the network.
Safaricom also holds a KSh30 billion sustainability-linked loan which it says supports its net-zero target alongside gender diversity and equality goals. Its strategy prioritises connecting sites to Kenya’s national grid, which is largely renewable, and using solar with batteries at smaller or remote sites.
Why the economics have shifted
Every site moved off diesel cuts emissions and also removes exposure to fuel prices and the logistics of trucking fuel to remote towers. This year’s oil shock, which pushed fuel prices up across East Africa after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has made that exposure expensive. Solarisation that was justified on climate grounds is now also a cost and resilience decision.
What to watch
- The diesel share. Progress is best measured by litres of diesel avoided and the share of network energy from renewables, both of which investors should expect to see reported annually.
- The link to the loan. The indicators and targets in the sustainability-linked loan, and whether they are met, show how seriously the commitments are priced.
- Scope 3 emissions. For a telecoms operator, emissions from devices, network equipment and suppliers often exceed its own. Credible plans need supplier engagement, not only site upgrades.
- E-waste. Phones, routers, batteries and solar equipment all reach end of life. Collection and recycling will grow in importance as Kenya’s extended producer responsibility rules are enforced.
- Offsets. Tree planting is valuable for restoration, but investors increasingly distinguish between removing emissions at source and compensating for them.
Safaricom has shown that a large African company can make measurable progress on operational emissions. The next phase, covering supply chains and products, will be harder.
Sources: Safaricom: Net Zero · The Standard: Safaricom launches 2025 sustainability report · TechMoran: Safaricom targets 5,000 solar-powered sites · SustainabilityReports.com: Safaricom 2026 annual report
