Country energy profile · Eastern Africa · latest data 2025

Kenya energy mix & electricity

In 2025, Kenya generated 14 TWh of electricity. Geothermal and other renewables is the largest source at 45.9%, ahead of hydropower (20.9%) and wind power (16.4%).

Other renewables 45.9%Hydro 20.9%Wind 16.4%Oil 10%Solar 4.6%Bioenergy 2.1%

Renewable electricity

90%

90% low-carbon incl. nuclear

#18 of 158

Carbon intensity

95g/kWh

World 458 g

#22 of 158 cleanest

Electricity per person

244kWh

World 3,860 kWh

#147 of 158

Generation

14TWh

+4.2 TWh vs 2015

#99 of 213

Net imports

1.54TWh

10% of demand

#38 of 80 importers

Electricity generation by source in 2025

Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.

Kenya electricity mix 2025

Source	TWh	Share	10-yr Δ pp
Other renewables	6.45	45.9%	+0.3
Hydro	2.94	20.9%	−17.3
Wind	2.3	16.4%	+15.8
Oil	1.4	10%	−0.2
Solar	0.65	4.6%	+4.1
Bioenergy	0.3	2.1%	−2.7
Total	14.04	100%

Kenya: electricity in context

In 2025, Kenya generated 14 TWh of electricity. That is similar to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Geothermal and other renewables is the largest source at 45.9%, ahead of hydropower (20.9%) and wind power (16.4%).

The renewable share stood at 90%, placing Kenya 18th of 158 ranked countries (in the top quarter). This puts it 56 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Africa (24.7%). Each kilowatt-hour emitted on average 95 g CO₂e, against a world average of 458 g. That is a very low-carbon power system. On carbon intensity, Kenya ranks 22nd of 158 from the cleanest.

Since 2015, the fastest-growing source has been wind power: its output rose by 2.2 TWh, lifting its share by 15.8 percentage points. Hydropower moved the other way, falling by 810 GWh. Overall, the renewable share has barely moved over ten years (a change of under one percentage point).

Coal has never been part of the power mix in Kenya in any meaningful way.

Wind and solar together provided 21% of electricity (solar 4.6%, wind 16.4%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Solar first passed 1% of the mix in 2021.

Kenya generates 244 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 6% of the global average. Imports cover around 10% of demand: Kenya bought 1.5 TWh more electricity than it exported.

How the power mix has changed

Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.

Electricity generation by source, 2000–2025

Renewables and carbon intensity

Kenya against the world and Africa averages.

Renewable share of electricity (%)

Carbon intensity (g CO₂e/kWh)

Solar and wind share of electricity since 2000 (%)

Power plants in Kenya

The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 23 utility-scale plants in Kenya with a combined capacity of 2.5 GW. Hydro plants account for the largest slice (32% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Lake Turkana (310 MW, Wind). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.

Listed capacity by fuel (MW)

Map of the largest plants loads when you scroll here…

Largest power plants

#	Plant	Fuel	Capacity MW	Commissioned	Owner
1	Lake Turkana	Wind	310	2017	Lake Turkana Wind Power Ltd.
2	Gitaru	Hydro	225	1978	Kenya Electric Generating Company
3	Olkaria I	Geothermal	185	1981	Kenya Electric Generating Company
4	Kiambere	Hydro	168	1987	Kenya Electric Generating Company
5	Olkaria I units 4 & 5	Geothermal	140	2015	Kenya Electric Generating Company
6	Olkaria IV	Geothermal	140	2014	Kenya Electric Generating Company
7	Olkaria III (Orpower 4)	Geothermal	139	2015	Ormat Technologies Inc
8	Kipevu III	Oil	120	1999	Kenya Electric Generating Company
9	Iberafrica I & II (Nairobi south diesel PP)	Oil	109	—	Iberafrica Power Ltd.
10	Turkwel	Hydro	106	1990	Kenya Electric Generating Company
11	Olkaria II	Geothermal	105	1982	Kenya Electric Generating Company
12	Kamburu	Hydro	94	1974	Kenya Electric Generating Company
13	Rabai	Oil	90	2009	Rabai Power Company
14	Thika	Oil	88	2012	Thika Power Ltd
15	Kipevu II (Tsavo)	Oil	75	2001	Tsavo Power Company

Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 23 plants on the interactive power plant map.

Solar & wind farms: Kenya

60 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 292 MW of solar and 633 MW of wind operating, plus 2.4 GW under construction or planned.

See them on the map Largest solar & wind farms: Kenya →

How does Kenya compare?

Kenya next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.

Country	Renewable %	Low-carbon %	Fossil %	gCO₂/kWh	kWh / person	Generation TWh
Kenya	90%	90%	10%	95	244	14	—
Ethiopia	100%	100%	0%	23	246	33.4	Compare
Tanzania	32.9%	32.9%	67.1%	345	129	8.8	Compare
Uganda	97.1%	97.1%	2.9%	59	116	5.8	Compare
South Sudan	1.8%	1.8%	98.2%	643	47	0.6	Compare
Somalia	20.9%	20.9%	79.1%	512	23	0.4	Compare
Rwanda	49.6%	49.6%	50.4%	354	79	1.1	Compare
Africa average	24.7%	25.5%	74.5%	544	635	962	Compare
World average	33.8%	42.6%	57.4%	458	3,860	31,772	Compare

Calculators for Kenya

Solar panel outputHow much a rooftop PV system would produce in Nairobi, using NASA weather data.Prefilled for Nairobi →Wind turbine energyAnnual energy and capacity factor of a turbine near Nairobi.Prefilled for Nairobi →Electricity CO₂Emissions of your electricity use. The grid here averages 95 g/kWh.Calculate emissions →Compare countriesPut Kenya side by side with Ethiopia or up to three others.Open comparator →

Kenya energy: frequently asked questions

What percentage of electricity in Kenya is renewable?

In 2025, 90% of the electricity in Kenya came from renewable sources (geothermal & other 45.9%, hydro 20.9%, wind 16.4%, solar 4.6%, and bioenergy 2.1%). The world average is 33.8%. Kenya ranks 18th of 158 countries; see the full ranking.

What is the main source of electricity in Kenya?

Geothermal and other renewables is the largest source of electricity in Kenya, providing 45.9% of generation in 2025, followed by hydropower (20.9%) and wind power (16.4%).

How clean is the electricity in Kenya?

Electricity in Kenya has a carbon intensity of about 95 g CO₂-equivalent per kWh (2025), against a world average of 458 g/kWh. That is very clean. Charging an electric car that uses 15 kWh/100 km therefore emits around 14 g CO₂e per km from electricity.

Does Kenya have nuclear power?

No. Kenya generated no nuclear electricity in 2025; its low-carbon electricity comes entirely from renewable sources (90% of generation).

How much electricity does Kenya use per person?

Kenya generates about 244 kWh of electricity per person per year (2025), compared with a world average of 3,860 kWh. Including all fuels for transport, heating and industry, primary energy use is about 1,608 kWh per person.

How much solar power does Kenya produce?

Solar panels produced 650 GWh in 2025, 4.6% of the electricity in Kenya. The solar share is up 4.1 percentage points in ten years. You can estimate what a rooftop system would produce at your address with our solar panel calculator.

Does Kenya import electricity?

Yes. Kenya was a net importer in 2025, importing 1.5 TWh more electricity than it exported.

Sources & references

Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity

Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2025. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.