Schneider Electric Marks a Decade of Impact in Kenya
Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, celebrates ten years in Kenya. This milestone highlights their significant role in the nation's booming tech and energy sectors. They have actively supported Kenya's sustainable development since 2014.
Empowering Kenya's Progress
Schneider Electric powers hospitals and scales digital data infrastructure. They train hundreds of youths in renewable energy technologies. They also revolutionize manufacturing businesses through digital transformation. Ifeanyi Odoh, Country President for Schneider Electric East Africa, spoke at the Schneider Electric Partners Event in Nairobi. He emphasized the company's decade-long impact and long-term regional vision.
Odoh stated, “This milestone reaffirms our investment and commitment to Kenya.” He added, “We’ve partnered to build sustainable, inclusive, and future-proof energy solutions.” Schneider Electric remains a trusted partner for Kenya’s digital and green transition goals.
Investing in Local Manufacturing
Schneider Electric has consistently invested in Kenya’s industrial growth. They champion local manufacturing. Through local partners, they heavily invested in local assembly of electrical switchboard enclosures. This includes products like Prisma and BlokSeT. This move supports Kenya’s "Buy Kenya, Build Kenya" initiative. Schneider Electric empowers local partners by transferring product capabilities. This enables independent solution building.
These partnerships created jobs and enhanced industrial capacity. They also made globally trusted electrical technologies accessible. Kenyan industries, data centers, and infrastructure solutions benefit greatly.
Cultivating Skills and Education
Skill transfer and education are critical to Schneider Electric's global ambition. They aim to train one million people in energy by 2025. This includes energy management and industrial automation skills. Schneider Electric's growth in East Africa includes deep investment in education. By the end of 2025, they will equip 32 TVET institutions. These East African institutions will receive state-of-the-art equipment. Over 25,000 students will receive training. These trainings cover electrical and automation innovations. They enhance practical learning in domestic and industrial wiring. PLC programming is also a key focus. Graduates are therefore industry-ready.
The first Schneider Electric Franco-Kenyan Centre of Excellence is a cornerstone initiative. It is located at PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute in Nairobi. This center was launched with the Kenyan State Department for TVET. The French Ministry of National Education and Youth also collaborated. The Schneider Electric Foundation also partnered. This center features advanced didactic benches. These provide hands-on training in electrical and automation systems. It will also focus on research, development, and testing. Renewable energy and energy-efficient solutions are key areas.
Mr. Odoh added, "Kenya leads the technology revolution." He confirmed, "Schneider Electric will continue to invest in smarter infrastructure." Workforce development and local partnerships remain priorities.
Driving Digital Transformation
Schneider Electric Kenya significantly advanced digitization. They enabled smart infrastructure and energy efficiency. Industrial automation across sectors also progressed. Through its EcoStruxure™ platform, the company implemented smart building solutions. Commercial spaces like banks benefit. They automated manufacturing plants in industrial zones. Digitized utility infrastructure supported energy-efficient operations. Smart Off-Grid solutions deployed in Kisii County health centers are a notable achievement. Matongo and Nyagoto Dispensaries saw reduced maternal mortality rates. Communities benefited from smart microgrids in regions like Kisii. Maternal mortality rates reduced by up to 83%.
Their partnership with IXAfrica marks a significant milestone. They launched East Africa’s first hyperscale data center, NBOX1. This Tier 3+ facility is in Nairobi. Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure for Data Centers powers it. MV and LV switchgear also contribute. It delivers 99.999% uptime. It also supports advanced AI workloads. This marks a significant leap in Kenya’s digital infrastructure.