Kenyan Climate Startup Koko Shuts Down After $60m Debt Crisis

Sudden Collapse Of Kenyan Clean-Energy Startup Leaves Many In The Lurch

A clean-cooking company that powered kitchens for hundreds of thousands of low-income families has abruptly collapsed, laying off its entire 700-person workforce and shutting off fuel supplies overnight. The fall of KOKO Networks, a once-celebrated Kenyan startup, reveals the fragility of climate-tech ventures built on complex global finance and vulnerable to a single regulatory decision. Founded in 2013, KOKO Networks aimed to revolutionise coo…

KOKO Networks collapse shows why carbon credits can’t be a market strategy

The sudden collapse of KOKO Networks on January 31, 2026, has sent shockwaves through the climate-tech sector, serving as a stark warning about the volatility of building a business around carbon markets. By shuttering its operations and laying off 700 staff after failing to secure carbon authorizations from the Kenyan government, KOKO has demonstrated the […] The post KOKO Networks collapse shows why carbon credits can’t be a market strategy ap…

Kenyans to Pay Ksh.23BN in Compensation to Koko Networks

Kenyan taxpayers are looking at a potential Ksh.23.1 billion in compensation package to the clean energy startup Koko Networks, following the government’s failure to honour an earlier signed agreement. This is after the startup shut down its operations in Kenya, resulting into layoff of its entire workforce after a prolonged dispute with the Kenyan government … The post Kenyans to Pay Ksh.23 Billion in Compensation After Koko Shuts Operations fi…

Kenyan climate startup Koko shuts down after $60m debt crisis

Koko Networks, a Kenyan climate tech startup once touted as a major solution to clean cooking in Africa, has shut down operations after accumulating more than $60 million in debt. The company confirmed the closure to staff on Friday, laying off about 700 employees with immediate effect. Founded in 2014, Koko established a fuel distribution network that enabled low-income households to transition from charcoal to bioethanol, a cleaner and more su…

The KOKO Collapse: How a Carbon Credit Standoff Bankrupted Kenya’s Clean Energy Giant - Techish Kenya

Kenya’s KOKO Networks collapsed after the government denied carbon authorisation, stranding 1.5 million households and risking massive World Bank liability.

Kenya's Koko Networks files for administration

On today’s edition of Techpoint Digest, we discuss Kenya’s Koko Networks filing for administration, how everyday cooking took Jaskaro to Lagos, and MTN MoMo Zambia going global.