In 2024, Kenya's electricity consumption paints an interesting picture. With total low-carbon electricity generation amounting to approximately 12 TWh, less than 1.5 TWh is derived from fossil fuels, making clean energy sources dominate the electricity mix. Geothermal leads the way with more than 5 TWh, followed by hydropower and wind at around 3.6 TWh and 1.8 TWh, respectively. Despite this majority share of clean energy, individual consumption in Kenya remains quite low at 244 kWh per person, far below the global average of 3,781 kWh per person. Low levels of electricity generation can limit opportunities for economic growth and development while affecting the quality of life. Unreliable power supply may also hinder industrial productivity and everyday conveniences that depend on electricity.
Is Electricity Growing in Kenya?
Examining electricity growth in Kenya, the numbers reveal a static landscape. The consumption stands at a plateau of 244 kWh per person in 2024, no different from the record set in 2022. This flatlining trend is mirrored in low-carbon electricity generation per person, which saw a slight decrease from 210 kWh in 2022 to 207 kWh in 2024. Such stagnation is concerning, especially in a world where electricity demand continues to grow due to technological adoption, urbanization, and the shift from carbon-intensive fuels to low-carbon sources. Without growth in electricity availability, there's a risk that Kenya could struggle to meet future electricity needs.
Suggestions
For Kenya to bolster its low-carbon electricity capacity, there is potential in scaling up existing wind power infrastructure, given its current contribution to the energy mix. Drawing inspiration from regions like China and India, both of which have made significant investments in solar and wind power respectively—992 TWh of wind and 834 TWh of solar in China, and 82 TWh of wind in India—Kenya could expand solar capacity alongside wind. Furthermore, the adoption of nuclear energy as seen in countries like France with 379 TWh generated, provides a robust model for Kenya to emulate. Nuclear, combined with solar and wind, can offer a stable and substantial foundation for Kenya's electricity growth while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Kenya is marked by a series of fluctuations, particularly in hydropower generation, which has seen numerous increases and decreases across different years. Notably, major increments were recorded in 2001 and 2010, reflecting improvements during those periods, while there were setbacks around 1999, 2000, and several years into the 2009 and 2014. The emergence of geothermal and wind power in the mid-2010s and late 2010s brought uplifts with consistent growth, suggesting that diversification into these green energy sources has been beneficial. For instance, 2015 witnessed a 1.3 TWh growth in geothermal, while wind energy saw a 1.2 TWh rise in 2019. Such historical gains highlight the importance of diversifying energy sources and maintaining momentum in the pursuit of sustainable electricity generation.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.