A new study has spotlighted unreliable electricity as a silent but significant obstacle to digital healthcare transformation across Eastern Africa. In response, it introduces Bright Health, a solar-powered, offline-first digital health solution built to guarantee uninterrupted access to patient data in low-resource settings. The feasibility study was led by Pazion Cherinet, CEO of Orbit Health, Ethiopia; Dr. Danny Nyatuka, Lecturer, School of Computing and Engineering Sciences at Strathmore University; and Dr. Mohammad Sakikhales of the University of West London.

Despite growing investments in electronic medical records (EMRs) and digital health systems, many facilities remain unable to use them effectively due to unstable electricity and internet connectivity, a challenge termed the “Data–Power Paradox.”

During a stakeholder validation workshop held at Strathmore University on 27th February 2026, Dr. Nancy Njeru from the Directorate of Digital Health, Informatics, Policy, and Research at the Ministry of Health (MOH) conveyed remarks from Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director General of Health, noting that only about 28% of rural and peri-urban facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa have reliable electricity. In Kenya, with a population exceeding 58 million, only 15% of health facilities are fully connected to the national grid. While Kenya Power reports 75% grid connectivity, many facilities still rely on solar or diesel generators, with approximately 10% heavily dependent on solar power.

Supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Frontiers Seed Fund, the study evaluated whether a solar-powered digital health system could function reliably in rural and peri-urban environments. Eighteen facilities were assessed across Kenya (Kiambu, Machakos, Busia, Migori, Kilifi, and Kajiado counties) and Ethiopia (Sidama, Oromia, and Amhara regions). Using surveys, system testing, interviews, and stakeholder workshops, the study examined technical feasibility, economic viability, and health system readiness.

Bright Health is an integrated solution combining solar power with a minimum three-day battery backup, offline-first EMRs, automatic data synchronization, flexible SIM-based connectivity, and capacity to power essential medical equipment. This ensures uninterrupted healthcare delivery even during prolonged outages.

The study reveals a system under strain. Across Eastern Africa, 86% of facilities rely on the national grid, yet 71% report unreliable power, and only 30% have backup systems in place. The cost burden is equally stark, with some hospitals spending up to KES 500,000 per month on electricity alone. At the lower tiers of care, the challenge deepens: 71% of facilities lack dedicated budgets for digital health, limiting investment in ICT infrastructure.

Yet, amid these constraints, Bright Health demonstrated strong resilience, operating seamlessly offline and synchronizing data once connectivity was restored. Crucially, healthcare workers showed a clear readiness to adopt digital tools, pointing to a key insight: the barriers to digital healthcare are structural, not behavioral. The study ultimately underscores that sustainable digital health systems depend on the delicate interplay between reliable power, stable connectivity, and adequate hardware.

The validation workshop brought together stakeholders from government, academia, the private sector, NGOs, and development partners, including the MOH, Kenya Digital Health Agency (DHA), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Safaricom, UNDP, JKUT, and Strathmore University. Participants co-developed frameworks recommending a hybrid governance model, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) financing, and standardized yet adaptable technical frameworks.

With feasibility confirmed, Bright Health will move into pilot deployments across Kenya and Ethiopia, followed by phased regional scale-up, PPP-based financing, and structured capacity-building programs. The initiative reflects strong policy and strategic alignment, supporting Kenya’s Digital Health Authority Act No. 15 of 2023, Ethiopia’s digital health strategies, UHC priorities, including Taifa Care and SHA, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 health framework. It also contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 3, promoting healthy lives and well-being in East Africa.

The Bright Health initiative brings the Data–Power Paradox into sharp focus, not as an abstract challenge, but as a solvable one. By integrating renewable energy with resilient, adaptive digital systems, it offers a clear and practical pathway to strengthen healthcare delivery across underserved regions. As the project team notes, “If the sun shines on the facility, the system should work. If the system works, care continues.”

This work was supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Frontiers Seed Fund. The consortium, Orbit Health, Strathmore University, and the University of West London, extends its sincere gratitude to the Ministries of Health in Kenya and Ethiopia, as well as regional and county health authorities, participating facilities, and frontline healthcare workers, whose collaboration made this work possible.

Article written by David Kimathi.