Kenya is intensifying efforts to achieve universal access to clean energy through cogeneration and bioethanol, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary James Opiyo Wandayi announced at the Cogeneration and Bioethanol Conference in Kisumu.
Addressing government officials, industry leaders, and development partners on Friday, Wandayi reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7)—ensuring affordable, reliable, and modern energy for all.
“The Government of Kenya is committed to achieving universal access to electricity and clean cooking by 2030,” Wandayi declared. “Cogeneration and bioethanol offer immense opportunities to diversify our energy mix, reduce fossil fuel dependency, and drive economic growth.”
Bridging the Bioethanol Deficit
Kenya currently produces 11.3 million liters of ethanol annually, far below the 40 million liters required—a demand projected to surge beyond 200 million liters by 2035. To close this gap, Wandayi emphasized the urgent need for increased investment and local production capacity to reduce import reliance.
Unlocking Kenya’s Cogeneration Potential
The sugar industry holds untapped potential for cogeneration, with an existing capacity of 196 MW—far from its full utilization. With strategic investments, this figure could exceed 300 MW, significantly boosting Kenya’s clean electricity supply and stabilizing the national grid.
Infrastructure Expansion to Meet Rising Energy Demand
Acknowledging Kenya’s growing energy demand, Wandayi emphasized that scaling up generation capacity must go hand in hand with developing energy transmission and distribution infrastructure.
“In view of increasing demand for energy, we must continue to upscale our generation capacity. But for us to achieve that, we must develop our infrastructure for energy transmission and distribution,” he stated. “You are aware the Lesos-Kisumu line is now complete, the Awendo-Isibania line is complete, and we are doing a lot in terms of transmission and distribution.”
Government’s Strategic Roadmap
Wandayi outlined key policy and investment measures aimed at catalyzing sector growth:
- Feed-in-Tariff (2018): Attracting renewable energy investments, including a 26 MW Power Purchase Agreement with Mumias Sugar.
- Bioenergy Strategy (2020): A structured plan to expand bioethanol production and adoption.
- National Energy Policy Review: Aligning energy strategies with global trends and Kenya’s development goals.
- Cogeneration and Bioethanol Development Committee: A high-level task force under the Ministry of Energy to accelerate sector expansion.
Call for Public-Private Collaboration
The Cabinet Secretary urged private sector investment in the value chain, pledging government-backed policy reforms and investment incentives to ensure sustainable sector growth.
“Our goal is to drive investment, secure local supply chains, and empower smallholder farmers,” Wandayi emphasized.
Backed by development partners GIZ and EnDev, the conference underscored Kenya’s bold vision for a cleaner, more energy-secure future.
