Nairobi and its surrounding counties have been identified as the largest consumers of electricity in Kenya, accounting for 43.92 percent of the country's total electricity consumption. According to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), the Nairobi region, which includes Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos, and Makueni counties, used 5,465.36 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity during the financial year ending June 30, 2026. This represents a 10.09 percent increase from the 4,964.34 GWh recorded in the previous financial year.
The increase in electricity consumption in Nairobi and its surrounding counties has been attributed to the region's large population and concentration of industrial activity. EPRA's Energy and Petroleum Statistics Report 2026 reveals that the region's electricity consumption rose by 501.02 GWh, marking a significant increase in demand for electricity. The report highlights that Nairobi retained its position as the country's biggest electricity-consuming region.
The Nairobi region's share of national electricity use has remained relatively stable, with a slight increase from 43.82 percent in the year ended June 2025. The region's electricity consumption has consistently accounted for nearly half of the country's total electricity use. In comparison, the Coast region was the second-largest consumer during the latest financial year, using 2,087.62 GWh, equivalent to 17.74 percent of national electricity consumption.
Other regions in Kenya have also recorded significant increases in electricity consumption. The Coast region's electricity use grew by 3.86 percent during the period, while North Eastern followed with consumption of 1,411.66 GWh. The Central Rift region accounted for 9.45 percent of the country's total electricity use, and the Mt Kenya region consumed 813.50 GWh, representing 6.54 percent of national consumption.
The increase in electricity demand across several regions has been reflected in national peak electricity demand, which reached a record 2,514.28 megawatts (MW) on June 29, 2026. This marks the first time demand has crossed the 2,500MW mark. Electricity generation also increased during the period, rising by 8.44 percent to 15,692.81 GWh, with renewable energy sources accounting for 81.13 percent of total electricity generation.
Renewable energy sources, including geothermal and hydropower, continue to play a significant role in Kenya's electricity generation. Geothermal power contributed 40.91 percent, while hydropower accounted for 22.65 percent of total electricity generation. The increase in demand has also been reflected in electricity sales by Kenya Power, which sold 12,792.42 GWh in the year to June 2026, up 12.2 percent from 11,403 GWh recorded a year earlier.
The growth in electricity demand and consumption is expected to continue, driven by an increase in grid-connected customers and new electricity connections. During the six months to December 2025, electricity demand increased by 8.25 percent, while peak demand reached 2,439.06MW. The number of grid-connected customers also increased by 182,195 to reach 10.22 million during the same period.
Key points
- Nairobi and its surrounding counties account for nearly half of Kenya's electricity consumption.
- The region's electricity consumption has consistently increased, driven by its large population and concentration of industrial activity.
- Renewable energy sources continue to play a significant role in Kenya's electricity generation, accounting for 81.13 percent of total electricity generation.
