By The Weekly Vision Reporter
Kenya has signalled a defining shift in its clean-energy ambitions after Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi announced that the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) will serve as the owner-operator of the country’s first nuclear power plant.
The project will be developed in partnership with the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), marking the strongest indication yet that Kenya is preparing to join the global community of nuclear-powered nations.
Wandayi said the decision aligns with President William Ruto’s target for Kenya to add at least 10 GW of new electricity generation capacity as part of the country’s plan to transition to a first-world economy. Kenya’s first nuclear installation is expected to generate approximately 2GW, with long-term plans to expand the country’s nuclear capacity to 6GW.
“This marks the beginning of Kenya’s nuclear-power era,” the CS said.
“Assigning KenGen the owner-operator role ensures the programme is anchored in strong technical capability, public trust, and long-term national interest.”
The announcement was made during the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between KenGen and NuPEA, establishing a Joint Engagement Framework to guide Kenya’s national readiness for nuclear power development.
The agreement launches one of the most extensive public-engagement initiatives in Kenya’s energy history, designed to build awareness, confidence, and preparedness as the country evaluates nuclear power as a viable component of its future energy mix. Wandayi emphasised that transparent communication and scientific accuracy will be central to the process.
“This MoU will deepen public awareness, strengthen stakeholder engagement, enhance institutional capabilities, and prepare the ground for a reliable low-carbon baseload option,” he added.
KenGen Chairman Alfred Agoi welcomed the move, saying the company’s decades of experience in operating hydropower, geothermal, wind, and solar plants places it in a strong position to lead the country into the nuclear-energy era.
KenGen Managing Director and CEO Peter Njenga described the partnership as a bold step towards securing Kenya’s long-term energy future.
“KenGen has led Kenya’s clean-energy evolution, from hydropower to geothermal and wind. Nuclear energy is the next frontier for nations seeking stable, affordable, low-carbon baseload power,” he said.
“Our partnership with NuPEA signals our readiness to shape Kenya’s energy future, anchored in industrial growth, job creation, and global competitiveness.”
Njenga added that KenGen’s designation as the future operator of nuclear facilities leverages the company’s national footprint, technical depth, and public trust. He stressed that the communication strategy accompanying the programme is not merely informational but a national preparation effort.
NuPEA CEO Justus Wabuyabo described the partnership as a turning point in Kenya’s transition from conceptual planning to implementation readiness.
Under the MoU, KenGen and NuPEA will establish a Joint Working Group responsible for developing a national communication and public-engagement strategy. This will include mapping key stakeholders across all counties, running nationwide public-education campaigns, convening technical forums and expert dialogues, and training journalists, community leaders, county officials, and educators on nuclear-energy fundamentals. The framework will also include a joint feedback and grievance-response mechanism aligned with global best practice.
The Framework will support early-stage siting and land-related processes, with KenGen contributing expertise from decades of executing large-scale infrastructure projects. Both institutions stressed that all siting activities will adhere to rigorous public-participation standards, continuous disclosure, and inclusive decision-making.
For consumers, policymakers, and investors, the long-term promise of nuclear energy includes more predictable electricity tariffs, fewer power interruptions, and an energy environment capable of supporting advanced manufacturing, digital industries, and broader economic transformation.
Kenya’s nuclear-energy preparations may be in their early stages, but the message from government and energy agencies is clear: the country is ready to lay the foundations for a stable, modern, and globally competitive energy future.
