Kenya is one of the few countries in the world that has committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 32 per cent by 2030, compared to the business-as-usual scenario⁶. This ambitious target, which was submitted as part of its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in December 2020, reflects Kenya's vision of becoming a low-carbon and climate-resilient nation by 2030⁷.
To achieve this goal, Kenya must invest more in renewable energy, which already accounts for about 90 per cent of its electricity generation⁸. Kenya has abundant natural resources for renewable energy, such as geothermal, wind, solar, and hydro power. These sources not only provide clean and affordable electricity, but also create jobs, enhance energy security, and support social and economic development.
Kenya has been a pioneer in developing geothermal energy, tapping into the steam resources in the Rift Valley. Geothermal power is the main source of baseload electricity in Kenya, providing 45 per cent of the total generation in 2020⁹. Geothermal power is reliable, stable, and drought-resistant, unlike hydro power, which is vulnerable to rainfall variability. Kenya has the potential to increase its geothermal capacity by at least eightfold, which could open opportunities for scaling up green manufacturing or exporting excess electricity to neighbouring countries².
Kenya is also a leader in wind and solar power, which are the fastest-growing segments of renewable energy in the country. In 2019, Kenya inaugurated the largest wind farm in Africa, the Lake Turkana Wind Power project, which has a capacity of 310 megawatts and supplies 17 per cent of the country's electricity[^10^]. Kenya also has several utility-scale and off-grid solar projects, which together contributed 3 per cent of the electricity generation in 2020⁹. Solar power is especially suitable for rural electrification, as it is cheaper and faster to deploy than grid extension.
Kenya's renewable energy sector has attracted significant investment from both public and private sectors, as well as from international donors and financiers. Kenya has launched a range of policy interventions to support renewable energy development, such as feed-in tariffs, power purchase agreements, tax incentives, and green bonds¹. Kenya has also benefited from global financing to support climate change mitigation, such as the Green Climate Fund, which has funded a $34 million project to help reduce the cost of climate change-induced drought on the country's economy².
Kenya's renewable energy success story is an inspiration for other African countries and the world, as it shows that it is possible to achieve both economic growth and environmental sustainability. Kenya has demonstrated its commitment and leadership in tackling climate change, and has called for more global solidarity and action to address this existential threat. As President William Ruto said at COP27, "we [Kenya] have taken a position that as a country we are going green and we are well on course"³.
