Kenya Power reports record electricity demand amid cold season and rising connections
Kenya Power says peak electricity demand broke records twice in July, hitting a new high of 2,362.28 megawatts on July 23 after surpassing the previous record earlier in the month.
Kenya’s cold season has pushed the country’s electricity demand to a new all-time high of 2,362 megawatts, driven by increased use of heating appliances in homes and businesses, Kenya Power has announced.
In a statement, the utility said data from its National Control Centre showed that peak demand was broken twice in July.
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The highest, at 2,362.28 megawatts, was recorded on July 23. Earlier in the month, on July 2, demand had reached 2,325 megawatts, surpassing the previous record of 2,316 megawatts set in February 2025.
"The increased demand for electricity is thought to be driven by the prevailing cold season that has increased usage for grid power to heat homes and offices," said the state utility.
Kenya Power Managing Director and CEO Joseph Siror attributed the rising demand not only to the cold weather but also to growing access to electricity through ongoing connectivity efforts.
Increased demand
"The new peak demand is a testament to our commitment to drive national electricity access through the deployment of various electrification projects. When we look at our electricity dispatch figures, we realise that electricity demand has increased by 46 MW in the last five months since February, when we had the first peak demand this year. We expect the momentum to continue as we roll out more connectivity projects across the country," said Siror.
According to Kenya Power, 401,848 new customers were connected to the grid in the financial year ending June 30, 2025. The company is implementing last-mile and targeted connectivity initiatives to serve the growing demand, especially from commercial and industrial users.
“We are rolling out last-mile connectivity projects nationwide, along with other initiatives targeting commercial and industrial customers. As we bring more of these users on board, we expect electricity demand to keep rising," said Siror.
In addition to expanding connections, Kenya Power is promoting increased electricity use through electric mobility and e-cooking initiatives.
Kenya Power plans to install 45 electric vehicle charging stations across six counties in the current financial year and has already set up e-cooking demonstration hubs in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru.
"This is in addition to partnering with various players to drive the adoption of e-cooking in institutions such as schools and hotels," said Siror.
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