Kenya is seeking assistance from a Turkish company to address an expanding electricity shortfall that has caused widespread disruptions affecting millions of homes and businesses across the country.
Reports indicate the government has initiated preliminary discussions with Karpowership, an Istanbul-based firm specializing in ship-mounted floating power generation units, to enhance electricity availability along Kenya’s coastal regions.
Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) Managing Director Joseph Siror confirms that negotiations commenced in 2024 and have reached an advanced stage of development.
Additional information suggests the initiative was originally projected to become operational by December of this year based on reported timelines.
The company maintains a fleet of 45 vessels capable of producing over 8,000 megawatts of electricity across 20 nations spanning Africa, Europe, South America, Asia, and Oceania.
Their plug-and-play approach enables deployment and commissioning of offshore floating power facilities within 30 days, presenting a compelling solution for nations facing immediate power requirements.
The situation is pressing as peak electricity demand has increased by one-third to a record 2.4 gigawatts in 2025, compared to 1.8 gigawatts when authorities halted new power contracts in 2018.
This moratorium on new power-purchase agreements implemented seven years ago prevented the addition of new generation capacity despite steadily increasing demand annually.
Kenya rescinded the moratorium in November of last year, yet the impact was already evident. Electricity imports reached an unprecedented 11 percent of total national consumption in 2025, indicating the grid’s inability to meet requirements.
Concurrently, Kenya Power’s contracted supply increased by just 13 percent to 2.9 gigawatts during this timeframe, a rate insufficient to match the rapid rise in consumption.
Grid pressure has led to disruptions affecting daily activities and commercial operations throughout the nation.
Kenya confronts an extremely narrow electricity reserve margin of only 2.3 percent, with peak system demand approaching 2,439 MW compared to a reliable operational capacity of approximately 2,495 MW.
This limited capacity leaves little room for managing unforeseen circumstances, occasionally necessitating scheduled evening power rationing to maintain grid stability.
Energy analysts from BloombergNEF emphasize that growing demand creates an immediate requirement for additional generation capacity, supporting the government’s consideration of innovative alternatives like floating power installations.
A floating power facility fundamentally consists of a vessel outfitted with electricity-generating turbines, moored at a harbor and directly linked to the national grid, engineered for rapid deployment and adaptability.
It is not viewed as a permanent solution but rather an interim measure to stabilize electricity supply while more extensive generation initiatives progress.
Should the agreement materialize, Kenya would align with numerous nations that have utilized Karpowership during electricity crises.