Nairobi, April 21 -- A fresh produce exporter and a construction ballast producer have installed solar power plants at their premises in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Kiserian, respectively, joining a growing list of businesses turning to alternative energy to cut costs and reduce reliance on the national grid.

Shalimar Fresh - a 60-year-old firm that grows and exports vegetables, fruits and flowers - has installed a 1.7-megawatt (MW) solar plant at its JKIA premises, while Homekena has set up a 426-kilowatt (kW) system at its ballast production site in Kiserian, Kajiado County.

"The prices are discounted compared to what we get from the grid," said Srikanth Vadakattu, group finance director at Shalimar Fresh Limited. ...