In western Kenya, about 30 kilometers north of the equator, Kakamega is lush and green. Forests filled with unique birds draw visitors from around the world for birdwatching, while rivers wind through fields of sugarcane, the region’s primary cash crop. Kakamega is also the home of Kenya’s last rainforest.
In the Butali Sugarzone Sisterhood Group in Kakamega, Kenya, you quickly notice Pamela Bukweye’s energy. At 46, Pamela is warm, enthusiastic, and deeply committed to building a better future for her family and community. She is raising two children — one in college and the other in high school — while growing her clean energy business as a Solar Sister Entrepreneur.
Pamela joined Solar Sister in July 2025 after a neighbor connected her with Business Development Associate Merceline Kung’a. Before joining, Pamela already sold locally made improved cookstoves, but she immediately saw the potential of Solar Sister’s products.
“I sold the locally made improved stoves, but the moment I saw the very modern stoves from Solar Sister, I knew that my customers would definitely upgrade. The stoves are clean and save a lot on fuel. I bought the first stove to sample and never looked back.”
Pamela joined Solar Sister, hoping to create greater financial stability for her family, especially to help cover school fees and, eventually, purchase land. Since then, she has completed Solar Sister’s full twelve-module entrepreneur training program and is now continuing with advanced training.
Her business has also created a ripple effect within her family. Pamela has shared what she has learned with relatives running their own businesses, and together they have built a growing network of entrepreneurs supporting one another.
Today, Pamela is focused on expanding her business, advocating for clean cooking solutions in Kakamega, and working toward another personal goal, building a proper home for herself and her family through the income she earns from clean energy entrepreneurship.