This archive report was first published on 8 January 2020.
On December 8, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta unveiled the Garissa solar power plant, a model for renewable energy production in Africa.
The 50MW plant, developed by the Rural Energy Authority (REA), is the largest in East and Central Africa and has added to Kenya's profile as a leader in renewable energy generation.
REA was transformed and expanded into the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) last year, taking up the role of developing renewable energy sources in the country.
The Garissa solar power plant was constructed at a cost of Kshs13 billion as part of a broad government renewable energy strategy to harvest 400MW of electricity from the country's vast solar resource.
Garissa, previously dependent on unstable thermal power, is now fully connected to the national power grid.
President Kenyatta commended the Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and other senior government officials for their tireless efforts in delivering major development projects despite criticism.
‘Not so long ago, such projects in certain parts of our country would have been difficult to imagine,' the President said.
The project was steered by REA management, led by Board chairman Dr Simon Gicharu and chief executive officer Peter Mbugua, who successfully led the implementation process.
The Garissa solar power project is contributing about 2% of the national energy mix and has significantly led to a reduction of energy costs and promoting the development of clean, reliable, sustainable, and affordable electricity.
