Carol Koech: From Herding Cattle in Kenya to Powering Africa’s Clean Energy Future

Now GEAPP’s Vice President for Africa, She’s on a Mission to Light Up 300 Million Lives by 2030

From growing up in Kenya’s Rift Valley without electricity — studying by kerosene lamp and fetching water from rivers — to holding one of the most influential clean energy roles on the continent, Carol Koech’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary.

On August 1, 2025, Carol officially took the reins as Vice President for Africa at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). Based in the U.S., she now leads Africa’s charge in one of the world’s boldest clean energy missions: connecting 300 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa to reliable, sustainable electricity by 2030.

But Carol isn’t new to driving large-scale change.

With over 20 years of experience in global corporations such as General Electric, Unilever, and Schneider Electric, she’s championed energy access for over 50 million people worldwide. At Schneider Electric, she most recently led global sustainability strategy and thought leadership. Prior to that, she was Country President for East Africa, where she expanded operations, built strong public-private partnerships, and promoted inclusive, sustainable growth.

Carol’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment. Over 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa still live without electricity — a gap that affects education, healthcare, jobs, and economic growth. Through GEAPP’s Mission 300 initiative — a massive partnership effort involving the World Bank, African Development Bank, SEforALL, and the Rockefeller Foundation — Carol is now tasked with turning that vision of universal access into a reality.

“Access to clean, reliable energy is the foundation of inclusive economic growth,” she says.

“I’m honored to lead this next chapter at GEAPP, working with our partners to empower communities, support governments in a just energy transition, and unlock Africa’s green growth potential.”

Carol is also a proud mentor for young African women in STEM and an outspoken advocate for inclusive leadership. Her story proves that being part of the diaspora isn’t just about leaving home — it’s about leading from anywhere.

In every sense, Carol Koech isn’t just building power — she’s becoming it.