The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has unveiled the framework for implementing the Energy (Integrated National Energy Plan) Regulations, 2025, calling on county governments to take a central role in planning and delivering energy solutions.
The regulations, published by the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, require counties to prepare and implement county energy plans aligned with the Integrated National Energy Plan (INEP).
The move therefore aims to decentralize energy planning, improve inclusivity and accelerate access to reliable and affordable energy across the country.
During the launch of the Energy Statistics Report for the financial year 2024/2025, the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Opiyo Wandayi, described the new rules as a turning point in Kenya’s energy sector.
“Energy is the backbone of every economy, and for Kenya, it is the driver of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA),” he said.
Counties are no longer bystanders. These regulations give them the mandate to map their energy needs, identify resources, and design projects that directly uplift their communities while aligning with national priorities,” added Wandayi.
The CS noted that energy underpins development in education, health, agriculture, housing, and manufacturing, stressing that universal access will only be achieved through grassroots ownership.
“When a school in Turkana has electricity, students can learn with digital tools. When a health facility in Kitui has steady power, mothers can give birth safely at night. When farmers in Kericho access affordable energy, they can process produce locally and create jobs. This is the development we seek, and counties are now firmly at the center of it,” he said.
Wandayi assured counties of national government support, citing ongoing training, technical assistance, and resource mobilization.
He urged governors and county assemblies to treat the regulations not as a compliance exercise but as a tool for investment and innovation.
“We must see counties champion renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency, and private sector partnerships. This is how we will deliver universal access by 2030 and meet our climate goals under the Paris Agreement,” he added.
The Principal Secretary for Energy, Alex Wachira, emphasized the importance of accurate data in planning.
He said the Energy Statistics Report will guide decision-making at both national and county levels.
Counties are now co-authors of Kenya’s energy future,” said Wachira, adding, “They must assess local demand, identify renewable potential, and harmonize their plans with the national strategy.
This framework ensures coherence, avoids duplication and channels resources where they are most effective.
Furthermore, he assured that the ministry is rolling out training and capacity building programmes to equip counties with technical expertise for designing credible energy plans.
The chairman EPRA, Eden Haji Ali, welcomed the regulations as a milestone in inclusive energy governance, saying they would attract more investment in renewables and off-grid solutions.
“Centralized planning alone cannot meet Kenya’s diverse energy needs. Counties understand their local realities, and by empowering them we not only promote inclusivity but also create confidence for investors,” Ali said.
He added that EPRA will provide oversight and technical guidance to ensure that county plans align with national priorities and global commitments.
The Director General, EPRA, Daniel Kiptoo, presented highlights of the Energy Statistics Report, noting that Kenya’s installed electricity capacity now stands at 3,840.8 megawatts, with renewable sources accounting for nearly 90 percent.
“Geothermal contributes 25.9 percent, hydro 23.9 percent, solar 14.1 percent, wind 12 percent, and bioenergy 4.5 percent. This makes Kenya one of the world’s leaders in renewable energy generation,” he said.
Kiptoo added that peak demand hit a record 2,392 megawatts in August 2025, reflecting rising connectivity and industrial growth.
“Therefore we must expand capacity, strengthen transmission, and invest in technologies such as battery storage to keep pace with demand,” he explained.
On petroleum, he reported that imports reached 9.7 million cubic meters in the year ending June 2025, a 7.7 percent increase from the previous year, while local consumption grew by 6.9 percent.
He assured the public that EPRA continues to regulate pump prices transparently to shield consumers from global market shocks.
Looking ahead, the Director General said EPRA’s priorities include scaling up electric mobility, expanding geothermal capacity toward 1,000 MW, promoting energy efficiency, and issuing International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs) to link Kenya to global carbon markets.
The launch underscored a new era of collaboration between national and county governments, regulators, and industry players.
Leaders affirmed that the Energy (Integrated National Energy Plan) Regulations, 2025 provide the foundation for inclusive growth, investment and a greener transition.
By Wendy Sheilla and Lucy Mwende
