WeTu (WE!Hub Victoria Ltd)
WeTu (WE!Hub Victoria Ltd)
Contributing to green growth and socio-economic development by delivering sustainable and innovative solutions for cleaner energy, safer water, and better mobility across rural Kenya.
BCTA MEMBERSHIP STATUS
Active
SECTOR
Energy & Utilities, Transport & Logistics, Water, Sanitation & Waste Management
HEADQUARTERS
Kenya
REGION OF INITIATIVE
Africa
SDG CONTRIBUTION
The Impact Goal
WeTu joined Business Call to Action in December 2020 and made a commitment to provide essential goods and services such as clean energy services and safe drinking water to 8000 people. They also expanded regionally to 30 new communities with Satellite Energy Hubs, as well as introduced new energy products/services for the customers in rural Western Kenya by 2023. WeTu also made a commitment to be a leading company in providing innovative and essential goods and services on clean energy solutions, e-mobility vehicles, and safe drinking water to 11,000 people in rural Western Kenya and will have regionally settled with 10 new Satellite Energy Hubs in Uganda or Tanzania by 2025.
The Market Gap
In Western Kenya, agriculture and fishing sectors dominate as key income drivers. There are a large number of micro as well as small businesses, mostly consisting of market trade, small retail products, artisanal services, small-scale construction, and transport as well as some larger wholesale outlets. Most rural communities lack a supply of safe drinking water. People fetch water from Lake Victoria for household use, which is not safe for human consumption. Most households treat the water with chemicals or boil it before drinking. Additionally, many fishing communities are not connected to the national electricity grid. The main centers, which are connected, face unreliable electricity supply and experience power blackouts on a daily basis.
The Business Solution
WeTu´s business model targets fisherfolk, small entrepreneurs such as motorbike riders, water vendors, as well as rural households in Western Kenya. WeTu's main offering is access to green and affordable energy that can be turned into productive use. The clean energy produced by the solar panels installed at the WeTu hubs is used for three main activities that improve the living conditions of people living at the BoP and to create income opportunities:
Access to clean and affordable energy, in form of solar fishing lanterns and other energy services for the local fishing community.
Access to safe and affordable drinking water through water ATMs in the communities of operation.
E-mobility such as e-cargo bikes, e-wedding dresses, etc. as well as other charging services such as boat batteries or electric agriculture appliances.
WeTu thrives to incorporate the local community and people at the BoP in its distribution model as well as staffing. The WeTu Satellite Hubs are operated by agents from the local communities. Micro-entrepreneurs earn the majority share of their income through WeTu, which is significantly above the normal average local income.