This archive report was first published on 9 August 2020.
Published on August 9, 2020, a recent article in The Standard highlighted the need for Kenya to transition away from thermal power generation and towards renewable energy sources. The article noted that thermal power generation is not only expensive but also environmentally unfriendly, relying on fossil fuels that are increasingly unsustainable.
Kenya is located on the equator, where sunlight is abundant, and recent technologies have optimized the generation capacity of both wind and solar power. The International Renewable Energy Agency reported in 2019 that renewable power costs are significantly cheaper than power produced from fossil fuels.
The article emphasized that the cost of electricity is a major obstacle to achieving the country's Big Four Agenda, which includes boosting manufacturing, affordable housing, food security, and universal health. Affordable electricity is essential for driving the manufacturing pillar of the Big Four Agenda, making it a crucial component of the country's socio-economic development.
The article questioned the continued reliance on thermal power generators, which are expensive and contribute to high electricity bills. It argued that these generators should function as a backup to sudden and intermittent shocks in supply, rather than being a primary source of power.
The writer concluded that the time has come to address the prominence of thermal energy in Kenya's power mix and its contribution to high electricity bills. Official policy should encourage a more sustainable approach with the necessary incentives that will work in favour of ordinary Kenyans instead of narrow business interests.
