Kenya’s New 40MW Kesses Solar Plant Begins Operations, Boosting Clean Energy in Rift Valley

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has added another major renewable energy project to its grid with the commissioning of the 40MW Kesses solar power plant near Eldoret. The facility, developed through a partnership involving the Private Infrastructure Development Group’s Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), Standard Bank Group, Stanbic Bank Kenya, and Alten Kenya Solarfarms, is now fully operational and supplying clean electricity to thousands of households and businesses in the Rift Valley region. The milestone strengthens Kenya’s position as one of Africa’s leading adopters of green energy.
Construction of the US$87 million plant created around 400 jobs, with 15 permanent positions now supporting its day-to-day operations. The project marks a significant achievement for EAIF, which has now backed renewable energy ventures in nine African countries and is nearing 1,000MW of green generation across its portfolio. Located just outside Eldoret—an economic hub known for agriculture, education, light manufacturing, and sports tourism—the Kesses plant is expected to play a pivotal role in supporting local industries. All electricity generated is fed directly into the national grid under a 20-year power purchase agreement with Kenya Power, ensuring long-term stability for both investors and consumers.
The project has drawn strong endorsements from partners and sector leaders who say the plant illustrates Kenya’s continued leadership in clean energy innovation. Representatives from Ninety One, Standard Bank, and Alten highlighted the importance of expanding renewable capacity to meet Africa’s growing energy demand while keeping emissions low. They noted that Kenya already sources over 80% of its electricity from renewables, and projects like Kesses help safeguard economic resilience amid global inflation, supply chain pressures, and the lingering effects of the pandemic. Local analysts add that the plant’s impact will likely extend beyond energy supply, boosting productivity in Eldoret’s agribusiness sector and supporting emerging enterprises in surrounding communities.
Looking ahead, the Kesses solar facility is expected to contribute to Kenya’s ambitious target of achieving 100% clean energy by 2030. Its success is also likely to attract additional renewable energy investments, especially in underserved regions where off-grid and utility-scale solar could help close the electricity access gap. With energy security becoming increasingly central to Kenya’s development agenda, the Kesses project signals a strengthened commitment to a sustainable, low-carbon future for the country and the broader East African region.