KenGen targets 200MW wind power in Marsabit to curb rising hunger for energy

In a push to meet Kenya’s growing electricity demand and reduce reliance on thermal energy, the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has begun feasibility studies in Marsabit County for a 200-megawatt wind power project.

The initiative comes as the Ministry of Energy projects that national power consumption will rise by up to 120 megawatts annually.

KenGen Managing Director Peter Njenga said the company expects to produce up to 200MW from the first phase of the Marsabit project, with additional plans to establish a solar plant in the area.

“We are currently carrying out some studies in Marsabit, and we believe that for the first phase, we can get 200MW from wind,” Njenga said.

Speaking in Olkaria, Naivasha, ahead of a three-day sustainable energy conference bringing together industry players, Njenga noted that electricity demand continues to rise, with hydro and geothermal remaining the country’s main sources of power.

On geothermal development, he said KenGen is working with the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) to deliver 200MW from Menengai and another 100MW from Baringo.

Green energy

“In the next 10 years, from our strategic plan, we are looking at adding 1,500 megawatts to the grid and that will comprise 100 per cent of green energy,” he said.

He added that the rehabilitation of Olkaria I, Kenya’s oldest geothermal plant, is underway, with capacity expected to increase from 45MW to 63MW by June next year.

“Currently, the country has 3.3 gigawatts of installed capacity with KenGen contributing 1.786 gigawatts of that as we have an important role in ensuring that we have adequate electricity in the country,” Njenga said.

Ahead of the conference, KenGen staff partnered with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) for a clean-up exercise in Kamere Estate, Naivasha, followed by a tree-planting activity at Mvuke Primary School.

NTSA’s Nakuru regional manager, John Parteroi, welcomed KenGen’s commitment to phasing out thermal power, noting that it aligns with the authority’s efforts to promote safer and greener transport.

“We are advocating for electric cars and motorcycles, which have zero emissions. We support efforts to phase out thermal power, and this should also be extended to the roads for safer cars,” Parteroi said.

Safer roads, greener energy

“We are advocating for safer roads and greener energy, as from our statistics we continue to see an increasing number of fatalities, especially on pedestrian and boda bodas.”

Other Topics To Read

• Northern Kenya
• KenGen
• Lake Turkana Wind Power
• wind power
• thermal energy
• KenGen MD Peter Njenga
• Olkaria Naivasha
• KenGen targets 200MW wind power in Marsabit to curb rising hunger for energy
• Headlines

The proposed Marsabit wind project has, however, sparked divisions among host communities, with residents split over how it should be rolled out.

While KenGen has suggested naming the facility the Marsabit Wind Project, some locals have rejected the idea, demanding broader consultation. Other contentious issues include the route for transporting heavy equipment, the location of the site office, and land acquisition procedures.

KenGen plans to develop the Marsabit wind plant in phases, starting with an initial 200MW expected to be operational by 2028. Later phases could scale capacity up to 1,000MW, making it the largest planned wind farm in Africa.

This will be the second major wind power project in Marsabit after the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) plant, which already contributes 310MW to the national grid. Industry data shows that Marsabit boasts some of the best wind regimes in the region, drawing multiple investors.

Other companies—including Sosian Energy, Gitson Energy, Kenya Mudhe Wind Power and Ignite Energy—have also announced wind projects that could collectively add another 1,000MW.

Beyond expanding Kenya’s renewable energy base, the projects are expected to deliver local benefits such as jobs, improved transport infrastructure, and social amenities, including water points, schools, and health facilities.