Kenya’s Fletcher wins Woman in Solar of the Year Award

Jenny Fletcher, co-founder and chief executive officer of Ariya Finergy has won the 2021 Woman in Solar of the Year Award by Africa Solar Industry Association.

The award recognises the women who have made extraordinary contributions in the solar industry in Africa.

She had been nominated alongside Francine Munyaneza (CEO, Rwanda based Munyax Eco) and Sylvie Kanimba the managing director, ENGIE Energy Access Rwanda.

“The win is validation for all the hard work and excellent service Ariya Finergy delivers to its customers on a daily basis, it really means a lot,” Ms Fletcher said during an interview with nation.africa.

She hopes her win would inspire more women to invest and work in the solar industry.

“There are very few solar engineering, construction and procurement companies founded and run by women, not just in Africa but in the world,” said Ms Fletcher who has in the past five years led Ariya Finergy into securing $1 million of assets.

Her company, based in Nairobi, develops and invests in clean and renewable energy solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“By winning this award, I hope it encourages other women to take the leap to start their own companies or take on the leading roles in their organisations not just in solar, but in any company within any industry,” she said.

The Briton who was born in Kenya, expressed her passion in supporting women to take leadership in the corporate world.

“I am a founding member of the Woman Corporate Directors, Kenya Chapter whose purpose is to support and place more women on boards and contribute to best practices in governance globally,” she said.

In the face of global warming, countries are in the race to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. And use of solar energy has been fronted as an innovative energy solution for families in place of carbon based fuels which account for 60 per cent of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

At the recent COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland world leaders committed to phasing-out inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels, a move that could reduce emission of the carbon gases.

Ms Fletcher said governments need to incentivise businesses to use clean and renewable energy as they emit larger volumes of greenhouse gases.

“Here in Kenya, reinstatement of VAT exemptions on renewable energy products and also manufacturers (have a capital) allowance of 50 per cent in the first year and 25 per cent in the second and third year. These initiatives have a direct effect on making the investment in solar more possible,” she said.

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