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| From left: Sean Lixiang, Director, Huawei Digital Power Department; Maureen Mwaniki, Director of Public Affairs, Huawei Kenya; Alex Wachira, Principal Secretary, State Department for Energy; a representative of Kenya Power; and Eng. Peter Njenga, Chief Executive Officer, KenGen, during the Kenya Energy Transition Forum 2026 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Upper Hill, Nairobi, on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. |
Kenya is moving to strengthen and modernise its electricity grid as increasing investment in renewable energy creates new demands for a more flexible and resilient power system, the State Department for Energy has said.
Principal Secretary for Energy Alex Wachira said the country’s energy transition must be accompanied by investments in smart-grid technologies, energy storage and advanced power management systems to ensure the electricity network remains stable as more wind and solar power is connected to the grid.
Wachira said Kenya had made considerable progress in developing a clean electricity system, supported by its abundant geothermal, hydro, wind and solar resources, but warned that increasing variable renewable energy generation was creating new challenges for the stability of the power system.
“The energy transition is therefore not simply about adding more renewable generation. It is also about modernising the electricity grid and transforming the way we plan, operate and manage the power system,” he said.
The PS was speaking Tuesday during the Kenya Energy Transition Forum 2026 in Nairobi, which brought together government officials, energy sector players, technology companies, development partners and research institutions to discuss the country’s changing energy needs.
He said the intermittent nature of wind and solar generation meant that the country needed to improve its ability to manage fluctuations in electricity production.
Unlike conventional generation sources, whose output can generally be controlled to meet demand, renewable sources such as wind and solar depend on weather conditions. Their increasing integration into the grid therefore requires technologies capable of balancing variations in supply.
Wachira identified smart grids, advanced grid management systems, improved power forecasting, digitalisation, demand-side flexibility, power electronics and energy storage as some of the technologies that could help Kenya manage the transition.
He said these technologies would not only facilitate the integration of more renewable energy but would also improve the resilience of the electricity network and help reduce technical and commercial losses.
The PS challenged stakeholders to move beyond discussions on the availability of new technologies and focus on how they could be deployed effectively and at scale.
He said this would require adequate investment as well as supportive policy and regulatory frameworks to attract financing and facilitate adoption across the energy sector.
“Kenya has a unique opportunity to position itself at the forefront of Africa’s energy transition. We have the renewable energy resources, a growing technology ecosystem and a strong foundation in our energy sector,” Wachira said.
He expressed optimism that the forum would result in partnerships, investments and practical interventions to support the country’s long-term energy goals.
The forum, organised by the State Department for Energy in partnership with Huawei Kenya, focused on emerging technologies that could support the transformation of Kenya’s power system.
Among the technologies discussed were grid-forming energy storage systems, which can help maintain grid stability, as well as smart-grid and wireless network solutions aimed at improving the monitoring and management of electricity infrastructure.
Huawei Kenya Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Public Affairs James Sun Quan said technology would play an important role in enabling Kenya to accommodate more renewable energy without compromising the reliability of the grid.
“Huawei is proud to partner with the State Department for Energy on Kenya’s energy transition journey. Technologies such as grid-forming energy storage and smart grid solutions can help Kenya integrate more renewable energy while keeping the grid stable and reliable,” said Sun.
He said the company would continue working with the government to develop solutions suited to the needs of the country’s power sector.
The forum also featured discussions on Kenya’s energy development trends and challenges, alongside the Green Smart Energy Initiative and deliberations on the next steps for the sector.
Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority Chairman Moses Mabonga, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) Chief Executive Officer Eng. Peter Njenga and senior officials from Huawei Kenya attended the forum.
Kenya’s electricity generation mix is already dominated by renewable sources, particularly geothermal, hydro, wind and solar. The government is consequently seeking to expand clean energy generation while ensuring that the transmission and distribution infrastructure can accommodate the changing generation profile.
Wachira said the success of the energy transition would ultimately depend on Kenya’s ability to combine its renewable energy resources with modern infrastructure, appropriate investment and technologies capable of maintaining a reliable electricity supply.
The discussions are expected to inform efforts to develop a more digitally enabled and flexible power system capable of supporting Kenya’s growing electricity demand and higher levels of renewable energy generation.
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