Kenya records five-year peak in electricity demand amid shift to renewable energy
Large-scale industrial and commercial consumers benefited from the Time-of-Use (ToU) tariff, saving roughly Sh1.438 billion by shifting 180.3 GWh of electricity usage to off-peak periods.
Kenya has recorded its highest electricity consumption in five years, reflecting growing household demand, increased commercial activity, and a shift towards cleaner transport and energy solutions.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) revealed the milestone in its Energy and Petroleum Statistics Report 2025, released on Tuesday, showing a peak demand of 2,316.2 megawatts (MW) and total generation rising six per cent to 14,472 gigawatt hours (GWh).
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“This morning, we have released the Energy and Petroleum Statistics Report 2025. Kenya recorded the highest electricity consumption in five years with a new peak demand of 2,316.2 MW. Total generation rose 6 per cent to 14,472 GWh. Approximately 80 per cent of the grid's power came from renewables, led by geothermal energy. On the demand side, households grew 13.03 per cent to 3,640.32 GWh,” EPRA stated.
Household electricity use grew by 13.03 per cent, consuming 3,640.32 GWh, while small commercial users saw an 11.5 per cent increase, reaching 1,913.26 GWh. Street lighting also expanded, supporting safer and more secure urban areas.
A standout development was the tripling of e-mobility consumption to 5.04 GWh, demonstrating Kenya’s ongoing transition to electric transport solutions.
Large-scale industrial and commercial consumers benefited from the Time-of-Use (ToU) tariff, saving roughly Sh1.438 billion by shifting 180.3 GWh of electricity usage to off-peak periods.
This measure has eased grid strain during peak hours and reduced operational costs, enhancing industrial competitiveness.
Regional power integration also strengthened, with the commissioning of the 400 kV line to Tanzania and electricity imports from Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania, improving system flexibility and grid reliability across East Africa.
The report further highlighted growth in clean cooking, with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption rising 15 per cent to 414,861 metric tonnes. EPRA attributed the increase to targeted interventions promoting LPG use among households, institutions, and the emerging autogas sector.
“On clean cooking, LPG consumption increased 15 per cent to 414,861 metric tonnes, supported by targeted interventions across households, institutions, and autogas,” the report added.
These developments come shortly after reductions in oil prices in the September–October cycle, underscoring the country’s progress in diversifying energy sources while maintaining affordability and sustainability.
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