Kenya’s journey towards achieving clean energy by 2030 remains firmly on track.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making the country energy-sufficient and reducing reliance on imported power.
He emphasized the importance of creating an enabling environment for investors in the green energy sub-sector, aiming to provide clean, affordable, reliable and efficient energy to all citizens.
“We are fully committed to providing an enabling environment for investors in the emerging green energy sub-sector as a way of offering citizens clean, affordable, reliable, and efficient energy. This, in our view, is a steady pathway to a nationwide transition to green energy,” Wandayi stated.
The Cabinet Secretary underscored the critical role of reliable energy in driving national economic growth and prosperity.
To encourage investments in green energy, he disclosed that he has petitioned the National Assembly to lift the 2023 moratorium on Power Purchase Agreements (PPA).
Wandayi made these remarks during his inaugural visit to Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) in Loiyangalani, Marsabit County.
He lauded LTWP’s immense contribution to stabilizing the national energy mix, noting that the project currently supplies 12 per cent of the national grid.
“It is impressive to note that since 2018, when the firm began commercial operations, it has delivered 9.5 billion KWh of clean energy to the national grid.
This is an admirable performance, and with an average capacity factor of 54.7 per cent, one of the highest among wind power plants globally, the road to nationwide green energy is real,” Wandayi remarked.
Lake Turkana Wind Power Chief Executive Officer Max Schiff also spoke at the event, highlighting the company’s positive impact on Marsabit County.
He pointed out that 80 per cent of LTWP’s employees are drawn from the local community, fostering strong community relations while addressing the region’s unemployment challenges.
Schiff further noted that LTWP has invested more than Ksh 840 million in Corporate Social Investment (CSI) projects, including education, water and healthcare, yielding significant benefits to local residents.
“We have achieved admirable results through these initiatives and remain committed to doing even more as resources allow,” Schiff said.
Additionally, Schiff emphasized the company’s commitment to fulfilling its financial obligations, noting that LTWP consistently pays its taxes and remittances on time.
With investments like LTWP and the government’s dedication to a green energy transition, Kenya is positioning itself as a leader in renewable energy across the continent.
