Kenya's North: Energy Generation and Access Disparity
Despite being a major electricity producer, Kenya's northern regions face significant access disparities. The lack of infrastructure and policy design choices limit local communities from utilizing the energy generated in their area.
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Kenya's northern regions, including Marsabit and Turkana, produce substantial electricity, such as from the Loiyangalani wind farm, yet face severe access issues. National electricity access has increased from 37% in 2013 to approximately 75% today, but regions like Turkana have only 8.8% access.
Over 1,000 km of high-voltage lines traverse these low-access areas without serving local needs effectively. Kenya's total electricity usage was 14,472 GWh, with a shortfall of 1,534 GWh met largely through imports from Ethiopia. To address local supply issues, investment in substations and hybrid systems is recommended, as current infrastructure overlooks the community's needs despite the region's resource potential.
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