Kevin Gaitho

Certified Expert in Climate and Renewable Energy Finance and Certified Solarteur with eight years of progressive professional experience in renewable energy transactional and policy advisory work. Hands-on experience in designing and deploying solar and wind plants in Sub-Saharan Africa as co-founder of Equatorial Energies - one of the first mover commercial and industrial solar PV design and EPC firms operating in Sub-Saharan Africa. Successfully commissioned over 20MW in projects and led the technical and commercial analysis on approximately US 3M$ of successful cross-border, high-impact investments in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

Currently a senior investment manager at Mirova SunFunder, an impact fund in the BCPE SA Group providing climate financing in Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, leading in the evaluation and management of technical and commercial risks. Skilled at developing and implementing systems for the evaluation of the technical feasibility of projects identified for financing, providing key inputs for financial modeling in the investment evaluation phase, and routine project monitoring and audits. 

Passionate about building sustainable programs to improve livelihoods through energy access in Africa. In pursuit of this passion, Kevin was instrumental in establishing, at the Strathmore University Energy Research Centre, a training program for solar engineers and technicians in Kenya. Kevin is also a technical advisor, most recently providing technical advisory services on programs focused on alternative storage and distribution methods for renewable energy.

Professional Experience 

Mirova SunFunder Inc.                                                                                 (October 2019 to Present) Senior Investment Manager                                                                             

In house technical advisor in charge of developing and executing technical risk evaluation and mitigation strategies for new and existing investment segments. Responsible for the development of technical risk evaluation guidelines for new investment segments. Lead project evaluation on proposed investments including project design review and financial model validation (from a technical perspective). Oversight on continuous monitoring on portfolio investments. Directly advising multi-disciplinary teams including C-Suite, Risk, Legal and Investments teams in Kenya, France, United Kingdom and Singapore on approaches to technical and commercial risk across a diverse portfolio of investees.

Select Accomplishments:

• Developed and implemented the fund’s technical risk appetite statement and evaluation process. Worked collaboratively with Risk teams to ensure the risk appetite reflected fund goals and overall organization risk appetite.
• Led the technical and commercial risk evaluation for the first-in-kind investment in telecom energy service provider companies operating in Gabon, Nigeria & Central African Republic. 
• Successfully introduced and implemented energy efficiency as an in-investment segment. Pilot US$ 500,000 investment already funded. 
• Working with the Environmental Social and Governance team, established the system for verification of emission reductions or avoidance data for the fund’s portfolio companies. 
• Led the technical and commercial risk evaluation on approximately US$ 500M of investments with a projected impact of 10 years in CO2 emissions and in job creation. 
• Investor reporting and interaction for new DDQ responses and investor relations content related to EM risk; through team consultation, own analysis (risk models), and own EM expertise.
• Own credit risk enhancement for technical DDQ relationships for current/ future funds.
• In House capacity building of staff in relation to technical assumptions as well as the technical risks made in PV & RE financial models

Equatorial Energies Limited                                                                  (March 2015 – September 2019)

Co-founder

Co-founder of Equatorial Energies - one of the first mover commercial and industrial solar PV design and EPC firms operating in Sub-Saharan Africa. Developed and implemented strategic plans, business operations, sales, and marketing initiatives. Successfully installed and commissioned over 7.2MW in solar projects in various countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Implemented a trainee. 

Select Accomplishments:

• Implemented over 7.2 MW of Solar PV. 
• Trained more than 25 local technicians to international Quality, safety, and Environment standards. 
• More than doubled the company’s turnover (USD 25,000 in 2016 to USD 120,000 in 2017). 

Strathmore University Energy Research Centre                                                    (June 2014 – May 2019)

Energy Developer

International Liaison for training and development for the Strathmore University Energy Research Centre. Developed standard operating procedures for the Centre. Lead trainer for solar technicians, including training on operational and fiscal efficiency.

Select Accomplishments:

• Actively established training for 3 training centres in Mali, South Sudan & Somalia.
• Successfully undertook technical and financial analysis of solar PV projects (80 MW utility-scale & 3MW commercial).
• Trained over 500 technicians locally and 120 internationally. 
• Successfully facilitated over 40 training cycles for solar technicians (Off-Grid, On-Grid & Hybrid Systems) and achieved an 80% pass rate of the participants.

East African Cables Limited                                     (February 2013 – May 2013 & February June 2014)

Engineering Trainee

Select Accomplishments:

• Obtained training and did notably well in Kaizens of the scary system at cable layup machine  
• Carried out preventive and corrective maintenance of systems, including electrical wiring to ensure efficiency in the factory. 
• Was actively involved in the setting up, commissioning of new machinery, and decommissioning of old machinery.

• Certified Expert in Climate and Renewable Energy Finance (2021)
• BSc Business & Information Technology (2018)
• Certified Solarteur for Photovoltaics 2014
• Certified Solar PV Trainer, Kenya 2014