Shaping Kenya’s Energy Transition — ESAK’s George Aluru Shares His Insights

Last Updated 1 week ago by Kenya Engineer

Kenya’s energy sector is at a crossroads. With nearly 80% of Kenyans now connected to electricity and one of the greenest grids in the world, the next decade will determine whether the country can balance affordability, reliability, and its ambitious renewable energy targets.

In an exclusive interview with Kenya Engineer, George Aluru, CEO of the Electricity Sector Association of Kenya (ESAK), shared his insights on where the sector is headed — and the bold steps needed to get there.

“Our grid is about 80% renewable by installed capacity and around 90% by energy delivered. That makes us one of the greenest grids globally. But the last 10–20% to reach 100% renewables is the most expensive — and the hardest,” says Aluru.

For Aluru, the solution lies not just in technology, but in creating a robust electricity market and stronger regional integration. His PhD research focuses on the Eastern Africa Power Pool, where countries would trade electricity day by day — making supply more flexible and prices more affordable.

“From my findings, moving to a wholesale power market significantly lowers prices. In fact, with high shares of renewable energy, we could even see negative prices. That’s good for consumers, but it also means we’ll need smart regulations to keep investors interested.”

Captive power, grid storage, and new opportunities like green hydrogen are already shaping Kenya’s future. But Aluru believes that success will require more than engineers — it will demand collaboration across disciplines.

“The energy transition is not just about engineers. We need lawyers, environmental scientists, social scientists, and communicators working together to make projects sustainable and socially accepted.”

Looking ahead, Aluru is optimistic:

“In 10 years, I see Kenya with a functioning wholesale electricity market, mainstream net metering, and regional power trade that looks like Europe’s. Consumers will have choices, and investors will have opportunities. But this will only happen if we keep making the hard decisions, step by step.”

The full interview with George Aluru will be featured in the upcoming November–December issue of the Kenya Engineer magazine.