Access to affordable energy is still a challenge for some citizens in Kenya, especially for counities living in rural areas and coming from low-income households. [1] Next to being expensive and harder to install in rural parts of the country, non-renewable energy sources also largely contribute to environmental pollution and are scarce, depleting the earth of its resources. [2]

Kenya has established specific financial and regulatory frameworks, such as the Energy Act in 2019, as developed feed-in tariffs, tax relief, subsidies, net metering, and long-term agreements, to promote an active approach to renewable energy investment. The goal stated by the Kenyan president in 2018 was to achieve having 100% of the country’s energy from renewables by 2020. These changes, along with a healthy business environment in Kenya, have encouraged businesses and suppliers as well as foreign investment to drive greater renewable growth to the country. Renewable electricity is showed to be reliable, energy-efficient and now made to be more cost-competitive in Kenya, and it can also be implemented more flexibly to increase energy accessibility, especially in rural areas. 

The government’s policy changes have successfully promoted a rise in renewable energy sources in the country. Even though the promise of 100% of the country’s energy coming from renewables has not been reached yet, as of 2020 January, 87% of the country’s energy is from renewables, compared to 70% in 2018. Renewables have provided better access to energy also for rural areas and made energy more affordable for households with lower income levels. 

[1] Source: https://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/12000/renewable-energy-is-the-key-to-cheaper-electricity-in-kenya/

[2] Source: https://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/12000/renewable-energy-is-the-key-to-cheaper-electricity-in-kenya/