Nairobi, Monday, December 1, 2025 Kenya today signalled a new phase in its clean-energy ambitions after the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Hon. Opiyo Wandayi, announced that Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) will be the owner-operator of the country’s first nuclear power plant, to be developed in partnership with the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA).
CS Wandayi said the decision aligns with President William Ruto’s call for Kenya to add about 10GW of electricity to propel the nation into a first-world economy. He noted that the first nuclear development will be approximately 2GW, with plans to scale up to 6GW of nuclear capacity over time.“This marks the beginning of Kenya’s nuclear-power era,” the CS said. “Assigning KenGen the owner-operator role ensures the programme is anchored in strong technical capability, public trust, and long-term national interest.”The announcement came during the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between KenGen and NuPEA establishing a Joint Engagement Framework to guide national readiness for nuclear power. The agreement launches one of the most comprehensive public-engagement initiatives in Kenya’s energy history, aimed at building understanding, confidence, and preparedness as the country evaluates nuclear power as a future component of its energy mix. CS Wandayi emphasized that the partnership puts transparent communication and scientific accuracy at the centre of Kenya’s nuclear planning. “This MoU will deepen public awareness, strengthen stakeholder engagement, enhance institutional capabilities, and prepare the ground for a reliable low-carbon baseload option,” he said. KenGen Chairman Hon. Alfred Agoi welcomed the move saying: “KenGen has a long experience and expertise in construction, operation and maintenance of power plants ranging from Geothermal, hydro, wind, solar and now ready to lead the next phase to help Kenya develop its first nuclear power plant. ”KenGen Managing Director and CEO Eng. Peter Njenga said the collaboration aligns with the company’s long-term plan to help the country transition to a diversified, secure clean-energy system.
“Today’s agreement marks a bold step forward for Kenya’s energy security,” he said. “KenGen has led Kenya’s clean-energy evolution—from hydropower to geothermal and wind. Nuclear energy is the next frontier for nations seeking stable, affordable, low-carbon baseload power. Our partnership with NuPEA signals our readiness to play a central role in shaping Kenya’s energy future, anchored in industrial growth, job creation, and global competitiveness.” Eng. Njenga added that KenGen’s designation as the owner-operator of nuclear facilities will leverage the company’s public trust, operational depth, and national footprint. “This is not just a communication effort, it is a national preparation effort.
Our mandate is to ensure Kenyans have factual, accessible, and timely information as we evaluate this globally proven and highly regulated technology.” NuPEA CEO Justus Wabuyabo welcomed the partnership as a turning point in Kenya’s transition from planning to implementation readiness. Under the MoU, KenGen and NuPEA will establish a Joint Working Group responsible for: developing a national communication and public-engagement strategy, mapping key stakeholder groups across all counties, implementing nationwide public education and media campaigns, convening technical forums and expert dialogues, training journalists, county officials, educators, and community leaders on nuclear fundamentals, and creating a joint feedback and grievance-response mechanism aligned with global best practice The Framework will also support early-stage siting and land-related processes, with KenGen contributing expertise from decades of executing large-scale infrastructure projects. Both parties stressed that any siting activities will follow rigorous public-participation standards, continuous disclosure, and inclusive decision-making.
For consumers and investors, this translates into more predictable tariffs, cut power interruptions, and an help build an energy environment capable of supporting advanced manufacturing and digital industries.
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Note to Editor:
About KenGen
Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC - KenGen is the leading electricity generation company in the Eastern Africa region with an installed generation capacity market share of more than 60%. The company’s primary business is to provide safe, reliable, and competitively priced electric energy for the country in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner while creating value for its stakeholders.
Today, KenGen PLC has an installed generation capacity of 1,786 MW, of which over 90% is drawn from green sources namely: Hydro (826 MW), Geothermal (754MW), Wind (25.5 MW). The balance is from Thermal.
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Frank D. Ochieng, Tel:0721816896 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nairobi, Wednesday, July 30, 2025: Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen), the country’s largest power producer, has planted 887,200 trees in 12 months, exceeding the government target of 830,000, in a strategic effort to protect Kenya’s water sources and ensure long-term energy security.
The NSE-listed utility stated that the trees were planted in forested areas crucial to the country's hydropower and geothermal infrastructure, including the Tana Basin, the Mau Forest Complex, and Mt. Elgon.
“KenGen’s outstanding performance in tree growing demonstrates the critical link between clean energy generation and environmental stewardship. By exceeding its target, KenGen is not just powering our nation, it is securing the natural ecosystems that underpin our energy future. This is the kind of leadership we need in the energy sector as we work towards a greener, more resilient Kenya,” said Alex Wachira, Principal Secretary, State Department for Energy.
KenGen has planted more than 2.1 million trees since 2022, when the government launched an ambitious reforestation campaign aimed at planting 15 billion trees by 2032. Overall, the company said it had planted 4.2 million trees since 2013.
“We grow trees to keep turbines running in our power plants located in several counties across the country,” said Peter Njenga, the Managing Director and CEO, adding, “Healthy catchments mean stable hydropower generation.”
“Tree planting must go beyond ceremony,” Eng. Njenga said. “At KenGen, every seedling is planted with purpose, to safeguard our environment, empower communities, and ensure the turbines keep turning.”
Tree planting in Kenya has become a national priority, following years of deforestation, erratic rainfall and declining water levels that have disrupted electricity generation. Hydropower accounts for nearly 30% of Kenya’s daily electricity generation, according to the latest reports from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
“In addition to hydropower catchments, we have embarked on reforestation around geothermal fields in Eburru and Enosupukia, areas where we tap underground steam to generate electricity,” said Eng. Peter Njenga.
The tree planting efforts are part of KenGen’s long-term strategy, known as G2G (Good to Great) Strategy 2034, which includes goals related to renewable energy, environmental restoration and community involvement.
In western Kenya, around the Gogo and Sondu power stations, the company distributed over 100,000 seedlings to small-scale farmers. Similar programs, the company said, aim to improve food security and support household incomes. “For our community partners, tree growing is not just about conservation,” a KenGen sustainability officer said. “It’s a source of income, dignity and resilience.”
KenGen has also involved schools and its own staff in the program. Through its Green Initiative Challenge, over 100 schools in Embu, Kitui and Machakos counties have planted 30,000 trees. Staff members have grown more than 80,000 trees in their homes and farms, while partnerships with golf clubs have added another 20,000 trees to urban green spaces.
Ends/
Note to Editor:
About KenGen
Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) is the leading electricity generation company in the Eastern Africa region, with an installed generation capacity market share of over 60%. The company’s primary business is to provide safe, reliable, and competitively priced electric energy for the country in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner while creating value for its stakeholders.
Today, KenGen PLC has an installed generation capacity of 1,786 MW, of which over 93% is drawn from renewable sources, namely Hydro (826 MW), Geothermal (754 MW), and Wind (25.5 MW). The balance is from Thermal.
For media queries, please contact: Frank D. Ochieng, Tel: 0721816896 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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