Sarara Foundation - A2E Fund

Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, the first Indigenous community-owned elephant sanctuary in Africa, cares for more than 50 orphaned elephants and employs 120 members of the Samburu community. 

The animals’ feeding depends on the Milk to Market program, through which more than 1,250 women supply goat and camel milk to the sanctuary. However, the current solar system cannot power the pasteurisation, cooling and water-pumping equipment simultaneously, limiting the amount of milk processed and the number of women who can participate. 

A second sanctuary, currently under construction, does not yet have electricity, preventing operations from beginning and a new milk-processing hub from being established.

Country: Kenya 
Region: Namunyak Community Conservancy, Samburu County

The project will install two standalone solar systems at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. At Reteti 1, the new infrastructure will allow pasteurisation and cooling equipment to operate simultaneously, ensure water pumping and support communications and wildlife monitoring.

At Reteti 2, a new solar microgrid will power milk-processing and cold-storage equipment. This second hub will increase the capacity of the Milk to Market program and enable up to 450 additional Samburu women to join as milk suppliers.

The solar systems will also support anti-poaching patrols and allow electric vehicles and motorbikes to be charged, reducing dependence on diesel. Local teams will receive training in monitoring, operation and preventive maintenance, strengthening the sustainable management of both sites. 

Expected results:

• Two standalone solar systems will provide reliable energy for milk processing, water pumping and sanctuary operations.
• New pasteurisation and cooling equipment will enable more milk to be processed and strengthen the supply for orphaned elephants.
• A second processing hub will allow up to 450 additional suppliers to join the more than 1,250 women already involved.
• Training for local teams will strengthen their autonomy in operating and maintaining the solar systems.
• Energy for communications and wildlife monitoring will support conservation activities in Namunyak.
• The gradual replacement of diesel with solar energy and electric mobility will reduce operating costs and associated emissions.