Kenya to Benefit from Solar Powered Lighting Courtesy of Philips and Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB)

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero while launching LED floodlights in Mathare

Royal Philips, in partnership with the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), will be installing 19 “Community Light Centers” in different locations across Kenya in a project expected to be completed in the next 3 years.

The two organizations are working on a programme that will see are areas of approximately 1000m2 or the size of a small football pitch lit using a new generation of energy efficient solar powered LED lighting. The concept of the Community Light Centers is to create areas of light for rural communities which live without electricity, thus effectively ‘extending the day and extending play’ creating numerous opportunities for social, sporting and economic activities in the evening.

This announcement was made during the Nairobi stop of Philips’ fourth consecutive pan-African Cape Town to Cairo Roadshow, which showcases innovations and initiatives in Lighting and Healthcare that create a meaningful impact on people’s lives in Africa. The roadshow specifically highlights the benefits of Philips’ LED and solar lighting solutions which offer energy efficient, cost effective and reliable on- and off-grid illumination.

The new Philips “Community Light Center” was opened by Nairobi County Governor Dr. Evans Kidero at the Mathare Grounds, next to Mathare Primary School, in the presence of officials from KNVB, whose WorldCoaches program trains local football coaches in using football for social development, specifically focusing on communities in developing countries.

During the Cape Town to Cairo Roadshow, Philips and the KNVB are also organizing football games with some of the world’s most talented legends. In the Kenya leg tour in Mathare, a select media team played against legends from Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) in an entertaining 10-minute high intensity match that ended in a barren draw.

The match was played under solar-powered LED floodlights.

Among the football legends who graced the Kenya leg of the football tour included former Dutch football star Aron Winter, Tico-Tico (Mozambique), Martha Karimi (WorldCoach and player of the Kenyan Women’s team) and former Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi.

“Africa is starting a new reliable solar powered LED lighting revolution which will save energy as well as provide lights for those without electricity” said Andre Dehmel General Manager, Philips Lighting Africa. “Dramatic advances are being made in the efficiency of LED lighting and this is going to speed up social and economic development across the continent.”

Johan van Geijn, Coordinator for International CSR Projects for KNVB WorldCoaches: “The cooperation with Philips on Solar Lighting Centres enables the WorldCoaches programme to have more impact on the local community and to stretch the program to more rural communities - as football and life skills education will become an evening activity.”

Philips is currently installing more than a hundred “Philips Community Light Centers” across Africa.

The Roadshow will make its next stop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on June 25th.

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