BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH SDG 7 

Kenya is one of Africa’s leading countries in renewable electricity generation, with almost 90% of its electricity generated from renewable sources. Geothermal power is particularly important: in 2023 it provided around 47% of electricity generation, alongside hydropower, wind and solar. Kenya is also one of the world’s lowest-cost geothermal power developers, benefiting from major geothermal resources concentrated in the Great Rift Valley (International Energy Agency [IEA], 2025a). 

Despite this strong renewable-energy position, Kenya has not yet achieved universal electricity access. Electricity access increased from 37% in 2013 to approximately 79% in 2023, while urban areas have already reached universal access. The remaining gap is concentrated particularly in rural and remote communities, making Kenya an important example of how clean electricity generation does not automatically guarantee universal energy access (IEA, 2025b). 

CURRENT CHALLENGES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Kenya’s principal challenge is therefore financing the infrastructure necessary for full rural electrification while continuing to expand renewable generation. Grid extensions, transmission and distribution networks, mini-grids and stand-alone solar systems require substantial investment to reach dispersed rural populations. Kenya’s National Energy Compact estimates that approximately 25% of Kenyans remained without electricity access in 2024, disproportionately in rural areas, and identifies around USD 19.1 billion in targeted energy-sector investment through 2030 (Government of Kenya & World Bank, 2025). 

At the same time, Kenya continues to expand its geothermal sector and aims to achieve universal electricity access and a fully clean national power system by 2030. Geothermal remained the country’s largest electricity source in 2024, accounting for around 41% of generation, while Kenya estimates that the Rift Valley contains approximately 7,000–10,000 MW of untapped geothermal potential. Achieving SDG 7 will therefore depend on converting Kenya’s exceptional renewable resources into affordable and reliable electricity access for its entire population (IEA, 2025c). 

LIST OF REFERENCES 

International Energy Agency. (2025a). Kenya 2024: Energy Policy Review. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/98bc7ce1-b22d-48c9-9ca2-b668ffbfcc4b/Kenya2024.pdf

International Energy Agency. (2025b, April 14). Kenya’s energy sector is making strides toward universal electricity access, clean cooking solutions and renewable energy development. Retrieved October 20, 2026 from https://www.iea.org/news/kenyas-energy-sector-is-making-strides-toward-universal-electricity-access-clean-cooking-solutions-and-renewable-energy-development

International Energy Agency. (2025c). Electricity 2025: Analysis and forecast to 2027. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/7c671ef6-2947-4e87-beea-af0e1288e1d7/Electricity2025.pdf

Government of Kenya & World Bank. (2025). National Energy Compact 2025-2030 for the Republic of Kenya. https://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/theworldbankgroupasset/document/2026/m300-energy-compacts/Kenya-National-Energy-Compact-Mission-300.pdf