This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
On July 19, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta officially inaugurated the Lake Turkana Wind Power project, a major milestone in Kenya's journey towards renewable energy.
Located in Marsabit County, the project harnesses wind energy from the Loiyangalani area, providing a clean and efficient source of power.
The wind farm, with a maximum capacity of 310.25 megawatts, was connected to the national grid on September 24, 2018, after a 15-month delay.
The project's transmission line, spanning 438 kilometers, faced several setbacks, including securing financing and land compensation.
Financed by the Kenyan and Spanish governments, the project cost Sh28 billion and is part of Kenya's Vision 2030 flagship project.
LTWP has a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with Kenya Power, effective 2017, at a cost of $8.5 cents (Sh8.66) per unit.
According to LTWP executive director Rizwan Fazal, the cost will be halved after Kenya Power purchases 1.68 billion units, a threshold expected to be reached by the end of October.
"So instead of power bills going up from November as they have traditionally due to drought, they could stay the same," Fazal said.
