By Ian Maleve
The government has attributed the steady rise in electricity demand across the country to ongoing industrial expansion, driven by increased investment in manufacturing, infrastructure, and value addition.
According to officials in the energy sector, power consumption has seen a marked increase over the past year, with national grid data indicating a significant uptick in both peak and base load usage.
This surge is being linked to the commissioning of new factories, expansion of special economic zones, and the operational scaling of key industrial parks.
The Ministry of Energy noted that several counties have witnessed a notable shift in electricity usage patterns, with previously low-demand areas now recording higher consumption due to the setup of agro-processing facilities, cement plants, and textile manufacturing units.
This trend is seen as a positive indicator of economic recovery and progress in the government’s industrialisation agenda.
In line with Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, the government has been actively promoting industrial growth through tax incentives, infrastructure development and energy subsidies aimed at attracting both local and foreign investment. As a result, the demand for reliable and sufficient power supply has become more critical than ever.
Energy experts believe that the rise in demand, while placing some strain on the existing generation and transmission infrastructure, presents a clear opportunity for scaling up investment in renewable energy and grid expansion.
Kenya, which relies heavily on geothermal, hydro, and wind energy, is looking to leverage its clean energy potential to meet the growing needs sustainably.
The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring energy stability by accelerating ongoing power projects and fast-tracking maintenance of existing infrastructure.
Plans are also underway to improve rural electrification and support emerging industrial clusters in remote areas.
While the increase in demand presents challenges, it is widely viewed as a signal of economic momentum and an expanding productive sector.
Stakeholders have urged the government to ensure that future power planning remains aligned with the pace of industrial development to avoid bottlenecks and sustain growth.
