NAIROBI: The government of Kenya is intensifying its efforts to ensure that all Kenyans have access to electricity by 2030, as announced by Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi. In a recent statement, Wandayi emphasized that the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has allocated Sh42 billion this year to facilitate electricity connections across the nation.
According to Kenya News Agency, Wandayi also highlighted the government’s ambitious green growth initiative, spearheaded by President William Ruto’s administration, which aims to achieve 100 percent renewable energy by the decade’s end. Kenya, although a developing nation, is striving to position itself among developed countries by investing heavily in renewable energy sources. The country is now part of the International Energy Agency (IEA) association, reflecting its commitment to energy transition.
Speaking during a tree planting event in Koibatek Forest, Wandayi shared his experience representing Kenya at the COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. The c
onference aimed to address global warming and its potential catastrophic impacts. On the sidelines of the event, Kenya hosted the Powerelec Kenya 2024 conference, attracting stakeholders from the energy sector to discuss renewable energy storage and electrical industries.
Kenya’s energy mix currently relies heavily on renewables, with 90 percent of the country’s energy sourced from geothermal, hydropower, solar, and wind. This has positioned Kenya as a model for integrating variable renewables and enhancing grid flexibility. The country’s efforts are also evident in its 100 percent electricity access rate in urban areas and 65 percent in rural areas.
Wandayi outlined Kenya’s strategic plans for green industrialization and emphasized the country’s role in leading Africa’s climate adaptation efforts. President Ruto has unveiled a goal to expand the country’s energy capacity from 3 Gigawatts to 100 Gigawatts of entirely renewable power by 2050. The government has pledged to triple renewable energy capacity, do
uble energy efficiency, and reduce fossil fuel dependency by 2030.
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has been actively involved in forest conservation efforts, having planted 3.6 million trees across the country. The ministry aims to achieve a target of 5.3 million trees annually in collaboration with local communities. These efforts are crucial for water conservation, which is essential for energy generation and geothermal stations.
Addressing a statement by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, Wandayi urged the clergy to ensure factual communication to prevent public misinformation. He reassured that the country’s economic indicators, such as the cost of living and currency strength, are improving.
Kisii Woman Representative Dorice Donya, accompanying Wandayi, advocated for planting fruit trees in schools to improve nutrition and environmental conservation. She emphasized that fruit trees are less likely to be harvested for timber or charcoal, thus supporting sustainable practices.