Trystan Casey
Kenya has made significant strides in providing access to electricity for its citizens over the past two decades. However, the country still faces challenges in ensuring that all Kenyans, especially those in rural and economically disadvantaged areas, have affordable and reliable electricity. Official estimates indicate that Kenya's electrification rate reached 75% in 2022, a substantial increase from 5% just 25 years ago. Despite these improvements, about 12 million Kenyans still lack access to electricity, and many are forced to rely on polluting fuels for cooking and other energy needs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Kenyans with access to electricity | 25 million |
| Number of Kenyans without access to electricity | 12 million |
| Percentage of Kenyans with access to basic electricity supply in 2020 | 71% |
| Percentage of Kenyans with access to electricity in 2022 | 75% |
| Number of people with low incomes who gained access to electricity through a project supported by the African Development Bank | 1.6 million |
| Difficulty in accessing electricity in rural regions | High cost of extending the grid to remote areas |
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What You'll Learn
Rural and poor households lacking access to the grid
While Kenya has made significant strides in extending access to electricity to its citizens, challenges remain, particularly concerning rural and poor households. Despite electrification rates doubling since 2013, reaching 75% in 2022, many rural and economically disadvantaged citizens are still unconnected to the national grid.
The high cost of extending the grid to remote, sparsely populated areas is a significant hurdle. These regions often lack the necessary infrastructure, such as roads and transmission lines, making it difficult and expensive to provide electricity. Kenya Power and Lighting Co. (KPLC), the main electricity distributor, has faced criticism for high energy pricing, poor reliability, and governance issues.
To address these challenges, the government has implemented initiatives like the Last Mile Connectivity Project, supported by the African Development Bank. This project added about 18,000 kilometres of low-voltage lines, connecting over 322,279 households and small businesses to the national grid. It has empowered people to engage in income-generating activities, such as poultry farming, livestock farming, and small businesses like hairdressing salons, improving overall living standards and reducing poverty.
Despite these efforts, Kenya is still among the top 20 countries with the largest energy access deficits, with 12 million citizens lacking electricity access. This has led to a reliance on polluting fuels like charcoal, coal, and kerosene for cooking, which poses health, environmental, and socioeconomic challenges. To achieve universal access to affordable and sustainable energy by 2030, as envisioned in Kenya Vision 2030, continued investment in grid infrastructure and alternative technologies, such as wind and solar power, is necessary.
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Clean energy alternatives
Kenya has set ambitious clean energy targets: 100% clean energy on the Kenyan grid by 2030, 100% clean cooking by 2028, and reaching net zero by 2050. The country is on track to meet these goals, with 90% of its current energy mix coming from renewable sources. This makes Kenya a leader among many countries with similar ambitions.
Kenya's ascendancy as a leader in clean energy on the African continent has been achieved through a comprehensive mix of policy, market-based incentives, and the ability to leverage its energy abundance, particularly in geothermal energy. The country has launched a range of policy interventions under the long-term strategy of Kenya Vision 2030 to encourage activity and investment within the renewable energy sector.
Kenya has been able to take advantage of its natural capacity for wind, solar, and especially geothermal energy. The country has ramped up energy generation at every scale, from utility-scale wind and solar farms to rural microgrids. The government introduced a feed-in tariff (FiT) on electricity generated from wind, biomass, and small hydropower in 2008, which was extended in 2010 to include geothermal, biogas, and solar energy. This has effectively increased project approvals and funnelled private investment into clean technology.
To further support the transition to clean energy, the previous president, Uhuru Kenyatta, introduced the Finance Act 2021, which reinstated VAT exemptions on renewable energy products, from small-scale solar modules and mini-grids to larger wind power equipment. Kenya has also received $70 million in concessional funding through the CIF's Renewable Energy Integration Program (REI), which supports developing countries in adapting their national energy systems to clean energy sources.
The Energy Access Explorer (EAE) is another initiative contributing to cleaner cooking alternatives in Kenya. It is an online, open-source, interactive platform that enables clean energy players to identify high-priority areas for energy interventions. At the national level, the EAE supports the upcoming Kenya National Clean Cooking and e-Cooking Strategies, while at the subnational level, it informs the design of County Energy Plans as mandated by the Energy Act 2019.
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Energy access deficits
Kenya is among the top 20 countries with the largest energy access deficits, with 12 million of its citizens living without electricity. This is despite the country's significant strides in enhancing household access to electricity, with its electricity generation capacity growing by an average of 4.9% per year between 2013 and 2020.
One of the main challenges to energy access in Kenya is the mismanagement of its two utilities: Kenya Power and Ketraco. Both have struggled with poor financial performance and rising debt levels, which has impacted their ability to provide reliable energy access. Additionally, access to finance and the affordability of clean technologies and fuels are also barriers to increased energy access in Kenya. There is also a disparity in energy access between rural and urban areas, with urban areas having 100% access to energy, while only 65% of rural regions have access.
The lack of granular data to inform strategic interventions is another challenge. However, initiatives like the Energy Access Explorer (EAE) are helping to address this issue by identifying high-priority areas for energy interventions and supporting the development of County Energy Plans and the National Clean Cooking and e-Cooking Strategies. The Open-Source Spatial Electrification Tool (OnSSET) is another tool that supports least-cost electrification planning and decision-making to further energy access goals in unserved locations.
Kenya has also prioritized the development of renewable energy sources, with about 90% of its power coming from renewable sources such as geothermal, solar, and wind. The country has shifted its baseload power from hydroelectric to geothermal, making the energy system more drought-resistant, which is critical given the drought-prone nature of the Horn of Africa. Kenya is also home to the world's single biggest geothermal power plant and has an estimated 10,000 MW of geothermal energy potential.
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Electrification rate
Kenya has made significant strides in improving access to electricity for its citizens over the past two decades. Official estimates indicate that the country's electrification rate stood at 75% in 2022, a notable increase from 71% in 2020 and a vast improvement from just 5% twenty-five years ago. This progress aligns with Kenya's development goals and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of achieving universal access to "affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy" by 2030.
Despite this impressive growth, challenges remain in ensuring affordable and reliable electricity access for all Kenyans. Rapid urbanisation and population growth have fuelled rising energy demand, straining the country's energy infrastructure. Moreover, guaranteeing access to electricity in rural regions is particularly difficult due to the high costs of extending the grid to remote and sparsely populated areas that lack roads and transmission lines. Consequently, while most Kenyans live in areas served by the national electric grid, a significant proportion, especially rural and economically disadvantaged citizens, remain unconnected.
The Kenyan government has been proactive in addressing these challenges. The Last Mile Connectivity Project, implemented between 2016 and 2022 with support from the African Development Bank, has been instrumental in enhancing electricity access for low-income groups. This project added about 18,000 kilometres of low-voltage lines, connecting over 322,000 households and small businesses to the national grid, providing access to electricity for more than 1.6 million people.
Furthermore, the Energy Access Explorer (EAE) is another initiative contributing to Kenya's efforts to expand energy access. EAE is an online, open-source, interactive platform that aids in identifying high-priority areas for energy interventions. It is used to inform the design of subnational County Energy Plans and supports the upcoming Kenya National Clean Cooking and e-Cooking Strategies. By leveraging EAE, Kenya can make strategic decisions about expanding energy access and promoting cleaner cooking alternatives, addressing the environmental and socio-economic challenges posed by the widespread use of polluting fuels for cooking.
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Income-generating activities
As of 2023, approximately 84% of Kenya's population has access to electricity, a significant improvement from 32% in 2013. However, this still leaves about 12 million Kenyans without electricity. The country aims to achieve universal access by 2030, focusing on expanding access in rural areas.
The availability of electricity enables various income-generating activities, which have positively impacted Kenyans, particularly those in low-income groups. Here are some examples of such activities:
Electrification of Small Businesses
The Last Mile Connectivity Project, supported by the African Development Bank, has connected approximately 322,279 small businesses to the national grid. This has empowered small business owners to enhance their operations and services, increasing their productivity and profitability. For example, the availability of electricity enables small businesses to utilise electrical equipment, improve lighting, and incorporate technology into their operations.
Agriculture
Electricity access has benefited agricultural activities, such as the establishment of a poultry farm by a group of 30 young Kenyans, half of whom were women. Electricity enables the operation of agricultural machinery, irrigation systems, and controlled-environment agriculture, improving productivity and efficiency in the sector.
Vocational Occupations
Electricity has enabled various vocational occupations, such as joinery, arc welding, and hairdressing salons. These occupations rely on electrical equipment and machinery, which can now be utilised due to improved access to electricity.
Renewable Energy Sector
Kenya has been focusing on developing its renewable energy sector, particularly geothermal, wind, and solar power. This shift towards cleaner energy sources has created income-generating opportunities in the form of new jobs and businesses in the renewable energy industry. For example, the development of geothermal power plants, wind farms, and solar installations requires specialised skills and services, creating jobs for Kenyans.
Clean Cooking Alternatives
Initiatives like the Energy Access Explorer (EAE) contribute to bringing cleaner cooking alternatives to Kenya. This includes supporting the development of the Kenya National Clean Cooking and e-Cooking Strategies. By transitioning from polluting fuels like charcoal, coal, and wood, Kenyans can improve their health and environmental conditions while creating new economic opportunities in the clean cooking sector.
These examples demonstrate how improved access to electricity in Kenya has facilitated a range of income-generating activities, empowering individuals and communities to enhance their livelihoods and contribute to the country's economic development.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2022, 75% of Kenyans have access to electricity.
About 12 million Kenyans do not have access to electricity.
No, 25 years ago, only 5% of Kenyans had access to basic electricity.
The Kenyan government has been investing in wind and solar technologies for electricity generation, and the country was ranked second in Africa for its robust electricity regulatory regime. The government has also been supported by the African Development Bank, which has helped improve access to electricity for low-income groups.
Lack of electricity access has impacted Kenyans' ability to cook with clean energy sources. Over 75% of the population cooks with polluting fuels like charcoal, coal, crop waste, dung, kerosene, or wood, which poses health, environmental, and socioeconomic challenges.
