At Dhamana, we believe that the most powerful solutions for Africa’s growth are homegrown. They are built on local innovation, fueled by local investment, and guaranteed by local expertise. This belief, rooted in Localized Thinking, moved from vision to reality on November 18, 2025, a day that marked a significant milestone not just for our company, but for the landscape of infrastructure financing in East Africa.
We were proud to host the “Unlocking Local Currency Investments: Guarantees, Infrastructure & Green Growth” event in Nairobi, in partnership with IPFA East Africa. The energy in the room was undeniable, centered on a single, powerful idea: that by de-risking investments, we can unlock the vast pools of domestic institutional capital needed to build a sustainable future.
There was an official announcement of Dhamana’s first landmark transaction, a KES 2.5 billion facility to support the solarization of Safaricom’s telecom towers across Kenya.
Why This Transaction Unlocks a New Chapter
This initiative, developed by Ofgen and supported by financiers ABSA and Middle East Bank (MEB), is more than just a deal. It is a living blueprint for how we can finance Africa’s future.
Scale & Impact: It modernizes and hybridizes telecom tower power equipment with on-site solar solutions, improving network uptime for millions and cutting thousands of tons of CO2 emissions annually.
Financial Innovation: It is a guarantee-backed, local-currency financing structure. This mobilizes domestic capital while shielding the project from foreign exchange risks, a common barrier to large-scale infrastructure projects.
A Replicable Model: It proves that complex, climate-focused infrastructure projects can be viably structured and funded by local financial institutions, creating a model that can be replicated across sectors and borders.
The Power of Partnerships
Impact on the Market: What This Model Unlocks
The successful close of this transaction and the discussions at our Nairobi event prove that the model works. The model is designed for replication. It provides answers to the most persistent challenges in emerging market infrastructure finance:
For Project Developers: It offers a pathway to secure local currency financing, making projects more bankable and protecting them from volatile exchange rates that can derail even the most promising initiatives.
For Domestic Financial Institutions: It provides a clear, de-risked avenue to participate in high-impact, climate-resilient projects. It transforms "perceived risk" into "bankable opportunity," allowing pension funds, insurers, and banks to confidently deploy capital into their own nations' growth.
For Corporate Off-takers (like Safaricom): It enables them to meet ambitious sustainability targets, reduce operational costs, and enhance operational resilience through reliable, renewable energy…all while working within a local financial ecosystem.
Can be Replicated Across Sectors
Water & Sanitation: Financing for new treatment plants and distribution networks.
Healthcare: Building and equipping clinics and hospitals with reliable solar power.
Agri-Processing: Powering cold storage and processing facilities to reduce food waste and increase farmer incomes.
Logistics & Transport: Electrifying public transport and port infrastructure.
