The East African Community has invited bids for a 150 kWp solar PV system with battery storage at the Lake Victoria Basin Commission headquarters in Kisumu, Kenya. The tender deadline is 3 November 2026.
The East African Community (EAC) has invited bids for a 150 kWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system with battery storage at the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) headquarters in Kisumu, Kenya. The official tender notice, published on 3 October 2026, outlines the procurement requirements. The LVBC procurement portal also lists the opportunity.
The system will combine rooftop-mounted solar PV panels with battery storage, hybrid inverters, and energy management and monitoring equipment. In addition, the contractor will install selected solar-powered parking shade structures and complete associated electrical and civil works. The project also requires a connection to the existing power network.
The EAC, through the LVBC, will implement the project under the Fostering the Potential of Lake Victoria Programme, which receives financing from Germany’s development bank, KfW. The contract also covers testing, commissioning and user training. After completing the installation, the contractor must provide a one-year defects liability period.
Solar system in Kisumu: competitive tender and bid requirements
The EAC will use a National Competitive Bidding procedure under the applicable KfW procurement guidelines. Eligible companies must submit an irrevocable bank guarantee worth USD 6,000 as bid security.
Bidders can consult the detailed procurement documents online. These include Volume 1: Tender document, Volume 2: Technical specifications, Volume 3: Bills of quantities and Volume 4: Drawings.
The LVBC will host a pre-bid meeting and site visit at its headquarters on Nkrumah Road in Kisumu on 16 October 2026 at 10:00 a.m. East African Time. Interested bidders must submit their documents by 3 November 2026 at 11:00 a.m. East African Time.
The LVBC will open qualification documents during the first public session. It will then open bids from companies that meet the qualification criteria during a second public session. Bidders or their authorised representatives may attend the public sessions.
The selected contractor must complete the works within 150 calendar days of the commencement date. However, the tender notice states that the LVBC will reject late submissions and will not accept bids sent electronically.
The tender remains at the bidding stage, and the notice does not identify a selected contractor. The planned solar system in Kisumu will combine photovoltaic panels with battery storage and connect to the existing power network. It also does not disclose the estimated contract value, battery storage capacity, expected electricity generation or projected operational savings. The notice does not quantify the share of the commission’s electricity demand that the planned system could supply.
