Carol Ofafa
Carol Awuor Ofafa is a visionary electrical engineer and renewable energy advocate who has harnessed her expertise to transform mobility across Kenya. She earned a First-Class BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Nairobi and a Master’s in Electronic and Electrical Engineering & Management from the University of Glasgow, where she was honored with a Graduate Leadership Award.
Over her career, Carol accumulated over eight years of experience designing, constructing, and maintaining high-voltage transmission infrastructure, including the critical Suswa Converter Station of the Ethiopia–Kenya interconnector. Her leadership extended to pioneering clean energy innovations; she conceptualized E-Safiri—an electric mobility startup developing solar-powered charging and battery-swapping hubs for two- and three-wheeled vehicles in rural Kenya, enhancing access to sustainable transport.
Carol’s innovations have earned her widespread recognition: in 2020, she received Kenya’s Head of State Commendation, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for her engineering contributions and mentorship of women in energy. In 2022, she was celebrated with the Remarkable Women in Transport Award by GIZ and TUMI for her leadership in urban mobility. In 2024, Carol was acknowledged as an African Change Maker by Empower Africa for her continued innovation in clean energy.
Driven by her rural upbringing and global experiences, Carol serves as a researcher at the European University Institute, contributing to the African School of Regulation and supporting capacity-building efforts across Africa’s energy sector