How solar lipa mdogo mdogo works
You pay a deposit, the company installs or hands over the system, and you pay the balance in small amounts, usually by M-Pesa. Each payment unlocks the system for a set time. If you stop paying, the system locks until you top up. When the last payment is made, the system is yours and unlocks for good.
The appeal is clear: a solar light kit or a solar TV for a deposit of a few hundred or a few thousand shillings, with payments close to what a family might spend on paraffin or phone charging. The cost is also clear once you add it up: you pay more in total than the cash price, often a lot more.
Real plans and their true cost
These are the brands' published plans for Kenya, with about what you pay in total against the cash price.
Sun King (EasyBuy, paid daily)
- HomePlus (3 lights, 7W panel): KSh 950 deposit, then KSh 25 a day for 448 days. In total you pay about KSh 12,150, against KSh 8,000 upfront, about KSh 4,150 (52%) more.
- HomePlus Pro (13W panel, smartphone charging): KSh 1,200 deposit, then KSh 35 a day for 448 days. In total about KSh 16,880, against KSh 10,000 upfront. About 69% more.
- HomePlus Max (4 lights, 80W panel): KSh 2,600 deposit, then KSh 60 a day for 480 days. In total about KSh 31,400, against KSh 20,000 upfront. About 57% more.
- HomePlus Max with 32" TV: KSh 8,000 deposit, then KSh 100 a day for 728 days. In total about KSh 80,800, against KSh 46,000 upfront. About 76% more.
- Sun King Pro lantern: KSh 350 deposit, then KSh 15 a day for 315 days. In total about KSh 5,075, against KSh 3,500 upfront. About 45% more.
SunCulture (Lipa Pole Pole, paid monthly)
- RainMaker Kubwa pump: KSh 4,999 deposit, then KSh 3,809 a month for 24 months. In total about KSh 96,415, against a KSh 64,999 cash price. About 48% more.
- ClimateSmart Direct: KSh 3,499 deposit, then KSh 2,659 a month for 24 months. In total about KSh 67,315, against KSh 44,999 cash. About 50% more.
- Solar Surface Pump: KSh 4,499 deposit, then KSh 3,529 a month for 24 months. In total about KSh 89,195, against KSh 59,999 cash. About 49% more.
Plans change, so confirm the plan in writing before you pay the deposit.
Is pay-as-you-go worth it, or a solar loan?
It can be, if the cash price is out of reach and the system replaces something you already pay for every day. A family spending on paraffin and charging phones in the market may come out ahead even at 50% extra.
It is poor value if you could save for a few months and buy for cash, or if a cheaper financing option exists. Before you sign:
- Work out the total. Deposit plus the rate times the number of payments. Compare it with the cash price on the same page.
- Check what happens if you miss days. Ask whether missed days extend the plan or add charges.
- Ask about the warranty. Find out how long it lasts and whether it runs for the whole payment period.
- Ask who services it. A locked system with a fault and no nearby agent is the worst of both worlds.
For larger systems, some banks and SACCOs offer asset loans. Compare their total cost the same way, and compare it with quotes from licensed installers for a cash system of the size you need.
d.light, M-KOPA and the other brands
- d.light mostly sells for cash in Kenya. Typical prices: the X1000 Pro home system about KSh 22,000, the X2000 Pro about KSh 31,000, the X3000 Pro about KSh 40,000 and a 32-inch solar TV about KSh 31,000. There is no published d.light pay-as-you-go plan for Kenya. See the d.light profile.
- M-KOPA no longer sells solar products in Kenya. It now offers smartphones and loans. An old M-KOPA solar unit still in your home is not something you can buy new today.
- Bboxx, Azuri and Mysol: these brands do not publish current Kenyan prices on their websites, so we do not quote any. Ask the company directly and get the plan in writing.
For a solar TV or a bigger home system, compare the Sun King plans above with a cash quote from an installer for a home solar system.
Customer care for each pay-as-you-go brand
People often look for a customer care number for Sun King, d.light, Azuri, Bboxx, Mysol or M-KOPA. We do not print phone numbers that we have not verified, because fake "customer care" numbers are a common way to steal M-Pesa payments.
- Use the number printed on your system, your receipt or the brand's official website.
- For Sun King and d.light, start from their profiles on this site: Sun King and d.light.
- Never send money to a personal number that calls or texts you claiming to be from a solar company. Pay only through the paybill or till shown on your agreement.
