Taita Taveta County has officially unveiled its comprehensive energy blueprint, becoming the seventh county in Kenya to finalize such a plan. Speaking at the launch held at Voi Wildlife Lodge, Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Opiyo Wandayi, urged counties lagging in energy planning to expedite their efforts, emphasizing that the country cannot afford delays. The CS highlighted that energy is a critical driver for Kenya’s social, economic, and structural development, and praised Taita Taveta for incorporating input from all four sub-counties—Voi, Mwatate, Wundanyi, and Taveta—ensuring inclusive and locally relevant planning.
During the event, Wandayi highlighted Kenya’s energy achievements, noting that national electricity access has risen from 29 percent in 2013 to over 95 percent today, with renewable energy now accounting for 82 percent of installed capacity. Despite these gains, he acknowledged challenges, including the 25 percent of Kenyans still without electricity, predominantly in rural areas, and the 65.5 percent of households reliant on traditional biomass for cooking, which poses environmental and health risks. The CS outlined strategies to expand infrastructure, promote productive energy use, and implement fair regulatory frameworks to ensure reliability, while leveraging partnerships with development partners such as the European Union and Germany’s Green Climate Fund.
County officials and energy stakeholders welcomed the blueprint as a step toward sustainable development and economic growth. Wandayi stressed that county energy plans are essential for the implementation of the national Integrated Energy Plan and for stimulating private sector investment. He also called for stronger collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, the private sector, and local communities to address barriers to clean energy adoption. The launch signals a decisive push for counties to align with national energy objectives, aiming to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy across Kenya.