Kenya's energy sector is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing demand for cleaner cooking energy and electric mobility. According to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), the country's per capita consumption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has increased from 7.9 kilogrammes to 8.9 kilogrammes. This growth is attributed to expanded importation, storage, and distribution infrastructure, as well as government interventions aimed at promoting clean cooking.
The growth in LPG use is part of a broader trend towards cleaner cooking energy, with households, institutions, and businesses gradually moving away from traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal. The government is targeting institutions as part of its clean cooking strategy, providing bulk LPG systems to over 11,000 public boarding schools, TVETs, and training institutions. This initiative is expected to reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal while improving access to cleaner and more efficient cooking energy.
Domestic electricity consumption has also recorded significant growth, increasing by 18.87 percent to 4,327.07 gigawatt-hours during the year. The number of new individual electricity connections rose by 411,710, taking cumulative grid-connected customers to 10.43 million. Large commercial and industrial consumers remain the largest electricity users, accounting for 47.57 percent of total consumption. This growth highlights the increasing energy needs of Kenya's manufacturing, businesses, and other productive activities.
Electric mobility is another major growth area, with electricity consumption by electric vehicles rising 143.01 percent from 5.04 GWh to 12.25 GWh. The increase follows greater uptake of the e-mobility tariff, and EPRA's removal of the 15,000 kWh monthly consumption cap for e-mobility customers. This move is intended to support higher electricity use as more electric vehicles enter the market.
However, the growth in energy demand is raising questions about whether Kenya's energy infrastructure can keep pace. Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira emphasized the need for stronger, more flexible, and resilient transmission and distribution networks to support the increasing demand. The government is also working to increase investment in the energy sector, with EPRA approving 10 power purchase agreements and issuing 11 generation licences during the year.
Petroleum imports also increased by 11.52 percent to 10.88 million cubic metres, reflecting higher demand from key economic sectors, particularly transport and construction. Domestic petroleum consumption rose 8.41 percent to 6.33 million cubic metres, with imports under the government-to-government framework accounting for 72.42 percent of total petroleum import volumes.
Despite the growth in energy demand, the EPRA received 489 complaints during the year, resolving 482 while seven remained under review at the close of the financial year. The authority's efforts to address these concerns will be crucial in ensuring that Kenya's energy sector continues to grow and meet the needs of its citizens.
Key points
- Kenya's energy demand is rising, driven by growth in cooking gas use, electricity, and petroleum products.
- The country is transitioning to cleaner cooking energy, with per capita consumption of LPG increasing from 7.9 kilogrammes to 8.9 kilogrammes.
- Electric mobility is also on the rise, with electricity consumption by electric vehicles increasing 143.01 percent from 5.04 GWh to 12.25 GWh.
