The stabilization of electric power supply across Kenya’s counties requires a dual approach: enhancing the training of local professionals and fostering robust Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives. Stakeholders in infrastructure development and power supply recently gathered in Nairobi for a workshop on November 21, 2024, to discuss these strategies and underscore the importance of empowering local expertise to address the challenges faced by Kenya’s energy sector.
Kenya’s electric power supply, especially in counties such as Migori, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisumu, Kisii, Nyamira, Siaya, Kericho, Busia, Bungoma, and Nyandarua, remains inconsistent. Power blackouts and energy shortages have been common, especially in Western Kenya, where transmission infrastructure is either underdeveloped or unable to meet the growing demand. These gaps in power supply are a significant barrier to socio-economic development, and stakeholders emphasize that solving this issue requires an efficient, well-trained workforce and collaboration with private investors.
At the core of this strategy is the need for skilled professionals who understand the intricacies of PPP agreements. These partnerships are critical in funding and expanding infrastructure, and experts at the workshop emphasized that local engineers and technical professionals need specialized training in PPPs to ensure successful project implementation.
Rose Kananu, Director of the BCDIP (Building Capacity in Development Infrastructure Programs), spoke about the ongoing efforts to provide intensive professional training across Africa. BCDIP’s initiatives aim to equip professionals with essential skills, ranging from technical construction knowledge to soft skills required for managing large infrastructure projects. These training programs focus on areas such as PPP negotiations, project management, and international certifications for engineers, ensuring that African professionals are well-positioned to take charge of critical infrastructure development across the continent. According to Kananu, this empowerment is key to addressing the infrastructure gap and creating a sustainable, locally driven development model.
A significant part of this strategy involves collaboration with private sector financiers. Kenya’s National Treasury has, since 2008, been borrowing concessional loans and grants from various international financial institutions such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). These funds have been pivotal in expanding Kenya’s national high-voltage transmission network, which has grown to an impressive 9,385.5 kilometers of transmission lines. Of this, 5,919.5 kilometers (63.06%) are owned and operated by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco), which plays a crucial role in the national electricity grid.
Ketraco’s 20-year Transmission Plan is now focused on further expansion, aiming to extend the grid by an additional 8,948 kilometers and boost transformation capacity by 15,261 MVA. This expansion is necessary to meet the country’s growing energy demands and eliminate blackouts across the country. With continued funding from both concessional loans and private sector investments, Ketraco is set to implement several key projects, including the Mariakani-Dongo Kundu line funded by JICA, and the Loiyangalani-Marsabit line funded by China Exim Bank, among others.
In recent years, Kenya has seen the successful completion of several high-profile PPP projects that have had a lasting impact on the country’s infrastructure. These include the Nairobi Expressway, the Turkana Wind Power Project, and Sosian Power, which have significantly contributed to the country’s energy supply. These PPP-funded projects have also created thousands of jobs, from engineers to architects, project managers, and legal professionals, providing a much-needed boost to the local job market.
As the government continues to expand its infrastructure through PPPs, training local experts in these specialized areas becomes even more critical. By equipping Kenyan professionals with the necessary skills, the country can ensure long-term sustainability in its energy sector. It will also help facilitate the efficient use of international funding, creating a model where both local talent and private investors work together to stabilize and enhance the power supply across the country.
Ultimately, the combination of local expertise and private sector collaboration is essential to solving Kenya’s power supply challenges, driving economic growth, and providing reliable electricity to communities nationwide.
