KenGen positions Kenya as frontier of global green energy shift

The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has reaffirmed its commitment to lead Kenya and the wider region in transitioning from fossil fuels to green energy.

Speaking on the Energy Post Podcast hosted by Frank Ochieng and Judith Mbogo, KenGen’s general manager in charge of commercial services, Ronoh Kibet, said the company is determined to prove that industrialisation does not have to come at the expense of the planet.

“You can generate power while polluting the planet or you can generate power while preserving it,” Kibet said.

“I am so passionate about how we can industrialise our country, create more jobs while preserving the planet and handing it over to our children better than we found it.”

Kibet said green power is produced in a way that preserves natural resources rather than depleting them.

He challenged the long-held belief that industrialisation can only be achieved through coal and other fossil fuels.

“People believe that industrialisation can only be achieved through coal generation, fossil fuel generation. But Kenya is trying to demonstrate to the world that you can achieve industrialisation through 100 per cent green power,” Kibet said.

He acknowledged that renewable energy was once considered expensive, but said technological advancements have made it competitive with conventional energy sources.

“The misconception has always been it is expensive. For a minute they were right, but technology has shifted and renewable energy is competitive,” the manager said.

Kenya is already cited as a leader in renewable energy, with geothermal, wind and solar accounting for the bulk of electricity generated.

On optimal days, the national grid can run on as much as 97 per cent green energy, a feat achieved by only a handful of countries globally.

“On a good day we could hit 97 per cent green generation in our grid. Very few countries can do that,” Kibet said.

He said Kenya is uniquely positioned due to its abundant renewable resources, including geothermal energy along the Rift Valley, strong wind corridors and high solar irradiance given its equatorial location.

“Kenya, unlike using fossil fuel, we are able to rely heavily on the blessings of God of abundant renewable sources of power. We have wind, solar, we are on the equator, geothermal is near the surface. We have all this to explore,” he said.

Kibet argued that as the world shifts towards renewable energy, Africa, endowed with vast clean energy resources, will become central to the global economy.

“Most renewable energy resources are found in Africa and when the world shifts to renewable energy resources, it will mean the world will be shifting to Africa,” he said.

“For a long time, Africa has been a source of raw materials and affordable labour. But sooner or later, Africa will be the leader of this new world order. It is just about accepting Africa and especially Kenya, as the frontier of green energy.”

KenGen is also expanding into value-added green industrial projects. The company recently partnered with China’s Kaishan Group to launch what has been described as the world’s first geothermal-powered green fertiliser project, aimed at reducing Kenya’s annual fertiliser import bill of nearly Sh80 billion.

“Sometime next year, we will be able to have our fertiliser plant,” Kibet revealed.

In addition, KenGen is venturing into clean-powered digital infrastructure. With data centres consuming significant amounts of electricity globally, Kibet said powering them with coal would worsen climate change.

“In today’s world we need those data centres. AI is now a reality. That is how we come in — and we are hosting the world’s first green data centre in Naivasha,” he said.

Kibet said KenGen’s evolution goes beyond electricity generation.

“KenGen is no longer just a power developer. It is now touching the livelihood of every Kenyan and we are providing solutions that will see us to the next generation,” he said.