New energy policy targets universal electricity clean cooking by 2030

DYAN KWAMBOKA AND MGENI KUJEZA-KNA 

The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has developed two draft policies to align the sector with global best practices and accelerate economic growth.

The Draft National Energy Policy 2025 aims to fast-track the country’s transition to a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient energy future.

The policy seeks to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy to drive national development, economic growth, and climate resilience.

It targets universal electricity access by 2030, with a particular focus on marginalized communities in rural and remote areas. This goal will be achieved through grid expansion, off-grid solutions, and the integration of renewable energy technologies.

Additionally, the policy aims to ensure universal access to clean cooking by 2030, reducing reliance on traditional biomass fuels and promoting cleaner, healthier alternatives.

It also seeks to harness Kenya’s vast renewable energy resources—including geothermal, solar, wind, and bioenergy—to expand the country’s renewable energy capacity and ensure that these sources contribute significantly to the national energy mix.

According to the Ministry of Energy, the Policy will position the country to lead in geothermal development, capitalizing on its geographical advantage and renewable potential to enhance energy security, spur green industrialization and contribute to global climate goals.

It will promote energy-efficient appliances, supporting electric mobility and enhancing energy conservation. The policy highlights the importance of securing sustainable financing to meet the energy sector’s infrastructure needs by fostering public-private partnerships.

The integration of emerging technologies, such as smart grids and artificial intelligence, will further enhance energy system efficiency and service delivery.

In line with the Paris Agreement, the Policy aims to decarbonize the energy sector by 2050. It aims to promote decentralized energy solutions like mini-grids and micro-grids and ensures equitable access to clean energy across the country.

Speaking during a public participation forum for the six Coastal counties held at the Kenya School of Government, Mombasa, Secretary for Renewable Energy Engineer Isaac Kiva reiterated the government’s commitment to universal access to electricity by 2030. Eng. Kiva disclosed that the current electrification coverage stands at 75 per cent from both grid and off grid stations.

“We have come up with projects which will accelerate electrification. In grid areas, it is much easier because we extend the power either through the Kenya Power and Lighting Company or through the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation,” he stated.

“Off-grid areas are more challenging because of the vastness of the areas; they are far from the national grid and what we did there is to come up with an initiative to supply power to those off-grid stations using mini-grids and solar system,” he added.

Eng. Kiva noted that the World Bank-funded Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project aims to reach underserved counties. “A few weeks ago, we were able to sign contracts to do mini grids to those areas for projects worth almost Sh10 billion,” stated Eng. Kiva.

Kilifi County Director of Energy, Wilfred Baya, lauded the development of the policy, saying that many off-grid hospitals and the adoption of solar panels is a timely solution.

Adoption of solar powered streetlights and flood lights in urban areas, he noted we will improve security, and Kenyans will be able to do businesses 24 hours thus accelerating economic growth.

“This policy is one of the best the country has ever had, and I believe it will create the change that we aspire to as per Kenya’s vision 2030,” stated the Director of Energy.

On the other hand, the overarching aim of the Draft National Petroleum Policy, 2025 is to explore, exploit, utilize and manage petroleum resources and products sustainably to contribute towards Kenya’s economic development.

The Policy will also promote sustainable petroleum resource exploration, development and production, enhance storage and transportation capacity of petroleum products, promote value addition of petroleum resources for local and regional petroleum product demand and enhance the uptake of Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

Engineer Kishoyian Saigulu from the State Department of Petroleum, expounded that the policy will promote sustainable development in Kenya’s upstream sector and ensure security of supply for the country and the regional markets.

“It also aims to promote the use of LPG; we recently launched the National LPG Growth Strategy that aims to increase the consumption of LPG per capita use from 7.5 per cent to 15 per cent,” stated Eng. Saigulu.