By John Toris
The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has raised its renewable energy target to 5,500MW, more than tripling the 1,500MW goal outlined in its G2G 2034 Corporate Strategy as it moves to expand Kenya’s clean energy capacity.
The announcement was made during the launch of KenGen’s inaugural Sustainability Report at Karura Forest in Nairobi, where the company outlined its environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance for the 2024/25 financial year.
The expansion plan includes 2,000MW from nuclear power, more than 700MW from hydropower and increased geothermal development.
In his remarks during the unveiling, KenGen MD & CEO, Eng. Peter Njenga, stated that the Sustainability Report is a landmark in the company’s development. Njenga said that the report is an indication of the company’s efforts in maintaining transparency, accountability and responsibility in business operations and that the aspect of sustainability is core in the firm’s investments and risk management.
Principal Secretary, State Department for Energy, Mr. Alex Wachira, said that the firm had provided an opportunity for investors to have access to competitively priced renewable energy and infrastructure for sustainable businesses.
“This is a practical demonstration of how energy can move beyond powering homes to powering factories, creating jobs, attracting investment and strengthening Kenya’s manufacturing base,” he said.
Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Eng. Festus Ngeno, lauded both the Sustainability Report and expansion of the company’s renewable energy capacity.
He remarked, “Our journey towards a low-carbon economy needs institutions that will continually reinvent themselves in line with new opportunities, yet remain responsible to the society and environment in terms of their impact. The Sustainability Report and expanded ambitions of renewable energy by KenGen represent the kind of corporate leadership required for us to achieve our national climate and development aspirations.”
According to the report, KenGen maintained a renewable energy dispatch rate of 94.4 per cent during the 2024/25 financial year while generating 6.9 million carbon credits, with its carbon intensity remaining among the lowest in Africa.
In addition to this, the company has grown 887,220 tree seedlings and restored 850 hectares of degraded land.
Socially, the company has been offering scholarships to 237 students and allocating 69 percent of procurement opportunities, which were worth KSh10.01 billion, to the locals.
Today, over 90 percent of installed generation capacity of 1,786MW is generated using renewable energy.
