What it costs
| Size / type | Typical price | Range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| lanterns | KSh 1,500 | 499 – 7,500 | 47 |
| wall/sensor/security lights | KSh 3,050 | 482 – 8,500 | 32 |
Prices for the light alone, from Kenyan marketplaces and solar shops checked in October 2026. Prices from listings on Kenyan shops and marketplaces, checked October 2026. Listings with impossible specs are left out.
| Size / type | Typical price | Range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| small home lighting kits / lantern kits | KSh 3,350 | 2,200 – 14,999 | 25 |
Marketplace kits with a small panel, a battery box and a few bulbs. Brand kits with a warranty cost more; see below. Prices from listings on Kenyan shops and marketplaces, checked October 2026. Listings with impossible specs are left out.
Which solar light do you need?
Solar lights come in four main kinds, and the right one depends on how many rooms you want to light and what else you want to charge.
- Solar lanterns and study lamps. One portable light with a built-in panel or a small separate one. Good for a child's homework, a kiosk or a power cut. Many also charge a phone.
- Solar torches. A handheld light you charge in the sun by day. Useful for walking at night and for the shamba.
- Solar home lighting kits. A panel on the roof, a battery box inside and three to six bulbs on cables, often with phone charging and a radio. This is the usual "solar home lighting system" in Kenyan homes off the grid.
- Outdoor lights. Wall, garden, security and flood lights with the panel and battery built in. See solar security lights and solar flood lights.
If you also want a TV, a fridge or an iron box, a lighting kit is too small. You need a proper home solar system with an inverter and a bigger battery.
What solar lights cost in Kenya
In the listings we checked, a solar lantern typically sells for about KSh 1,500, from about KSh 500 for a basic one to KSh 7,500 for a lantern with a radio and phone charging. A small marketplace home lighting kit is typically about KSh 3,400.
Brand lights cost more but come with a warranty. On the official brand stores on Jumia, a d.light S3 study lantern was on sale for about KSh 680 and a d.light S200 Pro lantern for about KSh 2,400. On Sun King's own site, the Sun King Pro lantern (160 lumens, with phone charging) is KSh 3,500 upfront.
For lighting several rooms, brand kits we checked ranged:
- Sun King HomePlus, 3 lights, 7W panel: KSh 8,000 upfront.
- Sun King HomePlus Pro, brighter lights and smartphone charging: KSh 10,000 upfront.
- d.light D100, 3 lights and phone charging: about KSh 9,500 on sale on Jumia.
- Sun King HomePlus Max, 4 tube lights, a motion security lamp and an 80W panel: KSh 20,000 upfront.
Jumia sale prices change often, so treat these as a guide.
Indoor solar lights: how to choose a good one
Ignore the watts printed on cheap indoor solar bulbs and look at these instead:
- Lumens. This is how much light you actually get. About 100–200 lumens is enough for reading at a table; 500 lumens or more lights a whole room.
- Battery size. Shown in watt-hours (Wh) or mAh. A bigger battery runs longer and lasts more cloudy days. Lithium iron phosphate (LFP or LiFePO4) batteries last far longer than cheap lead or unbranded cells.
- Panel size. A bigger panel refills the battery in one sunny day. A lamp with a tiny panel may never fully charge in the rainy season.
- Hours per charge. A good lamp states how many hours it runs on each brightness setting.
- Warranty and service. Brands with shops or agents near you can repair or replace a faulty unit. Most marketplace lights have no real warranty.
The best indoor solar lights in Kenya are the ones that tell you all five numbers. If a listing hides them, assume the light is weak.
Pay cash or lipa mdogo mdogo
Sun King sells its lights on daily instalments (EasyBuy) as well as for cash. Going by the deposit and daily rate on its own site:
- Sun King Pro lantern: KSh 350 deposit, then KSh 15 a day for 315 days. That adds up to about KSh 5,075, against KSh 3,500 upfront.
- Sun King HomePlus kit: KSh 950 deposit, then KSh 25 a day for 448 days, about KSh 12,150, against KSh 8,000 upfront.
- Sun King HomePlus Max: KSh 2,600 deposit, then KSh 60 a day for 480 days, about KSh 31,400, against KSh 20,000 upfront.
We worked out these totals from the published deposit and daily rate; the site does not print them. Instalments make a good light affordable today, but you pay roughly half as much again overall. Our guide to pay-as-you-go solar explains how these plans work and what happens if you miss a payment.
Solar lamps for sale in Kenya: where to buy
You can buy solar lights from brand shops and agents, from brand stores on Jumia, from solar shops in town, and on Jiji. A few tips:
- On Jumia, check that the seller is the brand's official store, not a third party using the brand name.
- Compare the sale price with the figures on this page, not with the crossed-out "was" price.
- Keep the receipt and the warranty card. Most faults show up in the first few months.
For lighting a whole home, a compound or a business, ask a licensed installer. One request on this site goes to up to 3 installers who can light the house, the gate and the yard in one job.