Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has said the government is fast-tracking efforts to ensure that all Kenyans are connected to power by 2030.
He reiterated that the government, through the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, has set aside Sh42 billion this year for electricity connections across the country.
Wandayi at the same time indicated that President William Ruto’s Administration has taken a bold green growth initiative that aims to achieve 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030.
He pointed out that Kenya was seizing every available opportunity to become more reliant on green energy, noting that despite being a developing nation, Kenya has managed to position itself alongside many developed countries in the race to invest in renewable energy.
“Kenya is now part of the International Energy Agency (IEA) association, a group of 13 countries that includes a majority of developed nations. This reflects Kenya’s commitment to advancing its energy transition,” explained Wandayi.
The IEA examines a wide range of energy issues, including oil, gas, coal supply and demand, renewable energy technologies, electricity markets, energy efficiency, and access to energy.
Through its work, the IEA advocates for policies that promote the reliability, affordability, and sustainability of energy across its 31 member countries—98 per cent of which are developed nations—and its 13 association countries, most of which are also developed.
Speaking when he presided over tree planting in Koibatek Forest, which straddles Nakuru and Baringo Counties, Wandayi said he had represented the country at the recently concluded COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, whose goal was to find solutions to ensure that global warming does not exceed 1.5°C—a threshold that, if breached, would have catastrophic effects on the planet.
Wandayi observed that the global call for a green energy revolution comes at a time when Kenya is stepping up its efforts to catch up with developed countries in ensuring 100 per cent green energy by 2030.
“On the sidelines of COP29, Kenya hosted the Powerelec Kenya 2024 conference—a 3-day African Solar Energy Conference focused on renewable energy storage and electrical industries. The event attracted regional and international stakeholders from the energy sector,” Wandayi stated.
He added that “Currently, 90 per cent of the country’s energy is sourced from renewables, with 45 per cent from geothermal, 19 per cent from hydropower, 17 per cent from solar, and 3 per cent from wind. The country’s energy mix serves as a model for integrating variable renewables and enhancing grid flexibility.”
Officials and employees from Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), Geothermal Development Company (GDC), Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), State Department for Energy, State Department for Petroleum, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), and Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) participated in the tree planting exercise.
Kenya’s progress, the CS elaborated, is further reflected in its 100 per cent electricity access rate in urban areas and 65 per cent in rural areas, adding that the country’s total energy generation capacity stands at 2,150 MW, with projections for continued growth through public-private partnerships focused on renewable energy.
He said the country was focused on sustainable energy and its role in leading Africa’s climate adaptation efforts.
He outlined Kenya’s ambitious plans for a green industrial strategy and called for concrete, action-oriented outcomes in the fight against climate change. Wandayi noted that President Ruto had already unveiled Kenya’s ambitious goal to expand its current energy capacity from 3 Gigawatts to 100 Gigawatts of entirely renewable power by 2050.
“The state has since pledged to triple renewable energy capacity, double energy efficiency, and significantly reduce fossil fuel dependency by 2030, aligning with the global commitment to maintaining global temperatures within a 1.50 C limit,” added the Cabinet Secretary.
He underscored the importance of turning Africa into a green powerhouse for both the continent and global industrial decarbonisation.
Wandayi pointed to alarming data from the UN, indicating a 1.2 per cent increase in global greenhouse gas emissions between 2021 and 2022. He emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change, stating, “This crisis must never be seen as a distant threat. It is here, now, indiscriminately devastating nations regardless of their size or wealth.”
He stated that the Energy and Petroleum Ministry had rehabilitated 1,593 hectares of water catchment, planting 3.6 million trees across the country.
“In efforts to achieve the government’s 15 billion tree planting, the Ministry has planted 3.6 million trees with an 80 per cent survival rate, which is impressive, thanks to the community for the support and nurturing of the trees,” Wandayi said.
He disclosed that the Ministry had so far planted 10,000 trees in Koibatek forest, with a target set at 50,000 seedlings by the end of January 2024.
Wandayi explained that the ministry was working to achieve the 5.3 million tree target yearly by joining forces with communities.
The trees, Wandayi explained, influence water, which the Ministry depends on in generating energy and for steam in geothermal stations.
“We need water, meaning we should conserve our forests by planting more trees. In Baringo, we have geothermal sites in Tiaty, where we are planning to install geothermal plants to produce electricity,” he added.
Responding to a statement by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), who accused the government of fostering a “culture of lies,” the Cabinet Secretary urged the clergy to ensure their statements are factual to avoid misleading the public.
“It is in Kenya’s best interest that all leaders, including the clergy, work together toward building a nation we can all be proud of. As we deliberate on critical national issues, we must remain honest to avoid misrepresenting facts,” he said.
Wandayi said the country was on the right trajectory as the cost of living was dropping and that the shilling had gained mileage against the dollar while prices of foodstuffs and fuel were on a gradual downward spiral.
Kisii Woman Representative Dorice Donya, who accompanied the Cabinet Secretary, called for public-private partnerships towards supporting schools across the country to plant fruit trees as a source of food and for conserving the environment.
Ms. Donya said fruit trees are not likely to be cut down for timber and charcoal.
“The reason for planting fruit trees is because climate change is here with us and it has become critical for everybody to plant trees. But the trouble we are having every year is that the trees which are planted are cut down for timber and charcoal; that is why schools should embrace this concept of fruit trees,” she stated.
The legislator added, “Children in public schools do not eat a lot of fruits. We believe if we plant fruit trees in schools, in the next three to five years all our schools will not only be green but also have plenty of fruits. This will guarantee good nutrition for the children.”
She said the fruit trees will improve the aesthetic value of schools and provide fresh produce for students.
By Emily Kadzo
