Kenya Opens the Biggest Wind Firm in Africa

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday launched the project which will see additional 850Kw generated by 365 turbines mounted on the shores of Lake Turkana.

The project is expected to add to the national grid 13 per cent of the electricity generated in Kenya.

Notable, the country has been depending on renewable sources generating 70 per cent of its electricity from wind power, geothermal and hydropower.

“Kenya is without a doubt on course to be a global leader in renewable energy,” said President Uhuru Kenyatta during the launch. The country aims to produce 100 per cent of its energy from renewable supplies by 2020.

The $775 million (KSh80 billion) worth project funded by the African Development Bank, East African Development Bank, European Investment Fund, Nedbank Capital, Norfund, among others is said to be under private management by a group of companies.

The citizens have high expectations from the newly launched project, with hopes that it helps lower the electricity costs and also increase energy coverage.

 The electricity access rate in the country stood at 73.42 per cent as at the end of April 2018, owing to various national electrification projects that have been undertaken by Kenya Power.