Kenya must move decisively and invest boldly in renewable energy

Olkaria geothermal power station in Naivasha. [File, Standard]

Two weeks ago, at the Sustainable Energy Conference in Olkaria, and a week earlier at the Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, one theme dominated the discussions, Africa can no longer afford to wait. The continent’s future depends on its ability to harness renewable energy and Kenya is at the centre of that story.

Indeed Kenya today stands at an inflection point. Our economy is growing, our cities are expanding, and our population is becoming more urban, more connected, and demand for power ever peaking. With this progress comes surging demand for electricity. But we face a double bind, how to power that growth while protecting our economy and our people from the destabilising forces of climate change. The old model of relying on imported fossil fuels or over dependence on hydropower is no longer sustainable. The time for incremental progress has passed. Kenya must move decisively and invest boldly in renewable energy.