Electricity Rationing Begins in Kenya

Kenya has begun nationwide power rationing as rising electricity demand outpaces supply, with President William Ruto citing reliance on imports, ageing infrastructure, and stalled energy investments as key causes of the crisis.

Kenya has begun rationing electricity nationwide as the country struggles to meet rising demand, President William Ruto announced on Wednesday.

Speaking in Nairobi, President Ruto confirmed that Kenya Power will implement power cuts between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily until further notice, citing a growing mismatch between energy demand and generation capacity. The rationing, he said, is a “temporary but necessary measure” to stabilise the grid amid increasing pressure on the national supply.

Official data shows that electricity imports from Ethiopia have surged sharply — from 337 million kilowatt hours in 2022 to 1.53 billion in 2024 — highlighting Kenya’s growing reliance on external power sources. However, a government moratorium on new power purchase agreements, aimed at curbing high tariffs, has prevented new producers from entering the grid, worsening the strain.

Energy analysts say the shortages expose deep-seated structural issues within Kenya’s energy sector, including ageing infrastructure, stalled investment, and delays in upgrading renewable generation facilities. “We are paying the price for years of underinvestment,” one energy consultant told local media.

The cuts are expected to hit households and industries alike, with businesses warning of increased costs and reduced productivity. Manufacturers have urged the government to fast-track stalled energy projects and lift the moratorium to allow private sector participation in power generation.

President Ruto said his administration is working on a recovery plan that includes fast-tracking the completion of stalled geothermal and solar projects, as well as upgrading transmission lines to handle growing demand.

Kenya’s electricity crisis underscores the challenges facing East Africa’s largest economy as it seeks to balance growth, affordability, and sustainability in its energy transition.

In the words of one energy expert, “When policy stalls, the lights go out — and Kenya’s darkness is a warning to all nations chasing development without power security.”