This archive report was first published on 11 November 2019.
As Kenya moves towards a 100% transition to green energy by 2020, counties are directly responsible for taking advantage of the country's enormous renewable energy potential to bring down the cost of electricity, especially in rural areas.
According to a Ministry of Energy survey, nine million households have access to off-grid energy, with renewable energy accounting for about 70% of Kenya's installed capacity, compared to the global average of 24%.
Published on November 11, 2019, the Energy Act of 2019 gives counties a critical role in preserving universal access to electricity, informing county energy plans, and synthesizing the development and review of national energy plans.
Counties must resonate and align their plans with the national renewable energy plan, taking into account their unique energy features, to reap substantial benefits such as increased household access to clean and affordable energy, improved county economics, greater business competitiveness, and concrete environmental benefits.
As Kenya is among developing countries that have made significant strides in electricity reforms, it is imperative that counties are mindful of their new regulatory arrangement and work towards improving the delivery of diversified energy supply.
Modern energy is a key input to development, and counties are essential in addressing the worrying energy poverty gap. However, limited attention given to energy access with a focus on renewable energy at the county level has resulted in incomplete efforts in developing consensus policy documents that capture counties' unique perspectives.
It is essential that counties develop a dedicated full-time renewable energy department with specialized staff and budget lines to avoid rushing against time and ensure the successful implementation of renewable energy projects.
Energy is an enabler of growth, and county governments are expected to become the new frontier for championing off-grid and microgrid power projects, in line with Kenya Vision 2030.
