Safaricom’s ambition to reduce its carbon footprint through renewable energy is facing a growing challenge as expanding telecommunications infrastructure increases electricity demand and puts pressure on its sustainability targets.
The Kenyan telecommunications company has continued investing in solar energy, energy efficiency and cleaner power alternatives. However, its latest sustainability performance highlights the difficulty of balancing rapid digital expansion with environmental responsibility.
According to Safaricom’s 2026 Sustainable Business Report, the company’s combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in Kenya increased by 9.1% to approximately 56,354 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in the financial year ended March 2026, compared with 51,638 tonnes in the previous year.
The increase reflects rising energy requirements across its expanding network, facilities and digital infrastructure.
Despite these pressures, Safaricom has made progress in transitioning its operations towards renewable energy. By March 2026, the company had installed solar power systems at 2,028 network sites, representing 35.7% of its network. This followed the addition of 596 solar-powered sites during the financial year.
The transition is also delivering financial benefits. According to reporting by Kenya’s Daily Nation, Safaricom reduced diesel consumption from 10.47 million litres to 10.08 million litres during the year, generating estimated annual energy cost savings of approximately KSh196 million.
However, diesel remains a significant operational expense, with the company spending more than KSh2 billion annually on the fuel.
One of the major obstacles is the growing electricity demand required to support mobile connectivity, data services and other digital operations. As more customers access mobile internet and digital financial services, telecommunications infrastructure must expand to maintain network capacity and service reliability.
This creates a difficult balance: expanding connectivity requires more energy, while reducing emissions requires a faster transition away from fossil fuels.
Safaricom has acknowledged that its solar rollout progressed more slowly than planned during the reporting period, partly because of contracting delays. The company is targeting 3,000 solar-powered sites by March 2027 as it accelerates its renewable energy programme.
Its longer-term environmental ambitions include powering 95% of its network with green energy by 2030 and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Beyond solar installations, the company is exploring energy-efficiency measures, including intelligent network management, improved cooling systems and digital monitoring technologies designed to reduce unnecessary electricity consumption.
For Safaricom, the challenge is no longer simply demonstrating its commitment to cleaner energy. It must ensure that renewable energy deployment grows quickly enough to match the demands of its expanding business.
The company’s experience also highlights a wider challenge for Africa’s telecommunications industry. As digital adoption accelerates across the continent, operators will need to invest in reliable, affordable and sustainable energy infrastructure.
Safaricom’s ability to align network expansion with emissions reduction will determine whether its clean energy ambitions can keep pace with its growth.
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