The World Bank has extended Kenya’s Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP) to 31 March 2027, giving implementing agencies six more months to complete outstanding works as progress varies across mini-grid sites. The six-month extension gives implementing agencies more time to complete outstanding works, as progress varies across the project’s mini-grid sites.
The World Bank has extended the closing date of Kenya’s Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP) to 31 March 2027, giving implementing agencies additional time to complete pending works and expand access to electricity in under served communities.
The World Bank Group approved the restructuring on 29 September 2026, extending the project by six months from its previous closing date of 30 September 2026. The approval and revised deadline are set out in the Bank’s official restructuring paper.
In a written response to Rinnovabili Africa, the World Bank spokesperson in Kenya said the extension was the project’s third and had been approved on an exceptional basis.
KOSAP aims to increase access to modern energy services in underserved counties, including through off-grid electricity and clean cooking solutions, according to the World Bank’s project documentation.
Implementation progress varies across sites
The project’s mini-grid programme is being implemented by Kenya Power (KPLC) and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC).
According to the spokesperson’s response, KPLC is responsible for 83 mini-grids, while REREC is implementing another 31. Construction has not yet commenced on 22 of KPLC’s mini-grids, while progress across the wider programme varies by site and contractor.
For REREC’s 31 mini-grids, civil works are advanced across the sites. The corporation expects to complete and commission most of them, the spokesperson said.
The written response did not provide a consolidated breakdown of how many mini-grids have been completed, commissioned and are currently supplying electricity to users. The World Bank said the implementing agencies would be best placed to provide detailed information on individual sites.
These distinctions matter when assessing progress: construction, commissioning and the provision of electricity to customers are separate stages of project delivery.
Factors affecting implementation
Overall implementation has been slower than originally anticipated, according to the World Bank.
The spokesperson said contracts for mini-grids and community facilities were awarded in February 2025 following earlier delays related to land acquisition, counterpart budget availability and procurement.
Subsequent implementation challenges have included changes in manufacturers and designs, contractor mobilisation difficulties, capacity constraints, and administrative processing requirements involving approvals and payments.
The response identifies several contributing factors rather than attributing delays to a single cause.
As the project moves into the extension period, the implementing agencies will need to assess which outstanding activities can realistically be completed by March 2027 and how contracts that are significantly behind schedule should be handled.
Contracts that have not mobilised or are substantially delayed will be reviewed by the implementing agencies in accordance with contractual provisions and applicable procedures, the spokesperson said.
Further extension will depend on progress
The current closing date is 31 March 2027. A further extension is not automatic and would require demonstrable progress against agreed milestones, as well as the necessary approvals.
The agreed milestones include delivering and installing materials already procured at sites where completion is realistic within the extension period, taking appropriate action on contracts unlikely to finish on time or that have not mobilised, and ensuring an orderly close-out of activities that cannot be completed.
The close-out process must also address environmental and social obligations and include direct communication with affected communities.
The World Bank confirmed that no decision has been made on whether unfinished activities could receive financing under a future operation. Any such arrangement would require consideration by the Government of Kenya and completion of the relevant project preparation and approval processes. The 31 March 2027, deadline remains the current approved closing date.
Monitoring delivery during the extension
The World Bank has outlined several measures intended to strengthen implementation monitoring during the revised project period.
According to the spokesperson, contractors are expected to submit six-month work plans to their respective implementing agencies, with biweekly delivery milestones. The Ministry of Energy’s coordination unit is to chair biweekly progress meetings, with signed minutes shared with the World Bank.
Monthly implementation reports endorsed by the chief executive officers of KPLC and REREC are also to be submitted to the Principal Secretary for Energy and the Bank.
The World Bank will continue to provide implementation support and supervision during the extension. Responsibility for carrying out project activities remains with the Government of Kenya and the implementing agencies.
REREC’s solarisation contracts for water facilities and community in-kind compensation projects are targeted for completion by 31 December 2026, according to the written response.
Delivering energy access to under served communities
The extension provides additional time to complete works where this remains feasible and to determine how activities that cannot be finished within the project period should be addressed.
For communities awaiting connections, the practical outcome will depend on progress at individual sites and whether infrastructure can be completed, commissioned and brought into service within the revised timeframe.
The World Bank said the implementing agencies will be responsible for communicating directly with affected communities where activities may not be completed under KOSAP, as well as fulfilling the relevant environmental and social obligations.
As the project enters its extended period, progress against the agreed milestones will help determine how much of the outstanding work can be delivered by March 2027.
