“Observing these wind turbines producing clean electricity for the nation, I believe this serves as a model for others to follow,” remarked Jennifer Gache, a key engineer behind the rotating blades and the subtle success of the country’s initial wind energy initiatives.
Upon completing her mechanical engineering degree at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in 1995, female engineers were uncommon. Entering the field at that time was like fighting a gale with a single flame, she noted. Data from the Engineers Board of Kenya years later illustrates the difficulty of that journey.
Women represent merely 11 percent of licensed professional engineers, with female participation in university STEM programs at only 22 percent, based on 2024 statistics from the Engineers Board of Kenya.
This underscores the ongoing gender disparity within the nation’s technical and leadership sectors.
KenGen’s Ngong Wind Farm originated with two turbines gifted by the Belgian government in 1993. Prior to that, KenGen conducted 14 years of research on the area’s optimal wind conditions using experimental turbines placed on the hills during the early 1990s. The original two turbines are no longer in operation, replaced by a line of massive turbines standing guard along the Ngong Hills ridgeline. Gache has established her presence in a field where few women previously ventured.
INITIAL STAGES
During the early phases of the nation’s wind initiatives, Gache frequently traveled to undeveloped remote sites, expansive lands lacking infrastructure and showing minimal promise for such grand endeavors.
“You must arrive and build everything from the ground up,” she stated.
At a period when the nation depended primarily on traditional energy, Gache was among a handful of engineers encouraging local institutions to consider wind power viable.
“I shared my experiences and demonstrated that wind energy was a practical power alternative,” she mentioned.
Gache subsequently traveled to Malmö, Sweden, for specialized training in wind power technology and modeling, an opportunity that solidified her conviction in renewable energy during an era when it was viewed as experimental in the country.
“Returning with that expertise gave me the ability to persuade the organization to diversify our energy mix with both renewable and traditional sources,” she explained.
She served as the chief energy planner, managing supply and demand projections for the country and neighboring regions, designing investment pipelines, and guiding strategic initiatives. Throughout this time, she played a crucial role in establishing the foundation for the local wind energy industry.
“I spearheaded the deployment of the 5.1MW wind facility at Ngong Hills, aiding in the creation of the regional wind sector,” she recalled.
Now, standing beneath the Ngong turbines, the milestone remains deeply meaningful to her.
“Visiting a project you launched and seeing it operational and admired as a benchmark brings immense satisfaction,” she expressed. “It was incredibly rewarding work.”
FORGING A PATH
Nzambi Matee, a materials engineer and entrepreneur, observed that the journeys of female engineers demonstrated both advancement and determination.
“The crucial first move is increasing investment in environments tailored for women in engineering,” she advised.
“Occasionally, you cannot simply wait for that environment to be handed to you; you must claim it.”
She remembered having to exert considerably more effort than her male peers during her early career to earn respect.
Gache later collaborated with the Ministry of Energy to create a comprehensive national wind energy map.
Her influence extended past Ngong. In areas like Bubisa in Marsabit and Loiyangalani in Turkana, she drafted the technical requirements for 50-meter-tall wind masts spread across a dozen locations.
The job frequently led her into remote areas that few colleagues were willing to explore. She remembered willingly taking on tough tasks, such as journeying to Loiyangalani to evaluate potential wind sites in the northern region.
“I am a pioneer,” she joked. “I possess a deep drive for exploration. I thrive on demanding tasks. My resilience, resourcefulness, adaptability, and excellent interpersonal skills made it simpler to launch new initiatives and persuade others to embrace novel concepts.”
Currently, KenGen boasts around 26 MW of installed wind power capacity at Ngong, representing approximately two percent of its overall installed capacity.
However, for Gache, effective engineering extended beyond mere megawatt counts. While introducing wind projects to local residents, she frequently assured them that progress would not interfere with their traditional ways of life.
“We informed the community that their cattle grazing could continue uninterrupted,” she noted. “We are producing electricity, yet the local population can still maintain their daily routines. That represents effective project management.”
Gache’s ambitions extended beyond wind power. She transitioned into another intricate and highly specialized domain: nuclear energy.
In 2009, she organized a regional conference designed to educate policymakers on the prerequisites and obstacles of launching a nuclear power initiative. Her efforts also concentrated on developing technical expertise and assisting organizations in comprehending the infrastructure necessary for nuclear energy advancement.
“My contributions resulted in the creation of Nupea (Nuclear Power and Energy Agency), and the national dialogue surrounding nuclear energy is now firmly established,” she stated.
GUIDING THE NEXT GENERATION
Outside the realm of policy discussions and energy strategy sessions, Gache gradually emerged as a guide for emerging female engineers operating in environments that frequently doubted their capabilities.
She motivated young female engineers to consistently enhance their expertise and pursue challenging opportunities instead of avoiding them.
“It is a demanding field,” she acknowledged. “However, that does not imply women are incapable of thriving.”
During 2022, she secured a seat on the council of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, eventually leading the Women Engineers Committee from 2024 to 2025.
Among her key efforts was organizing the inaugural Women Engineers Committee Summit. She also arranged mentorship events, online seminars focused on job searching and contract negotiation, and networking gatherings that offered platforms for young female engineers to interact and develop.
Linda Lichuma, a recent civil engineering graduate interning at the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), was one young professional influenced by this guidance.
Shortly after completing her studies at the University of Nairobi in September 2024, Lichuma had to adapt to the practical challenges of engineering while contributing to a 200-kilometer highway project.
“Nothing can completely ready you for the actual difficulty of the work,” she admitted. “What keeps you moving is your enthusiasm and the conviction that you have a place in STEM.”
Thanks to Gache’s guidance and the Women Engineers Committee, Lichuma received opportunities to engage in settings where seasoned engineers and industry leaders made critical choices and designed initiatives.
“That experience revealed that youth should be included in environments where key choices are formulated,” she said.
Presently, Gache holds positions as a regional consultant for East African Community affairs at GFA Consulting Group and as an advisor for Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, the German National Metrology Institute.
Her current responsibilities center on enhancing regional supply networks and elevating industrial benchmarks.
Gache aims to advance her impact even more. She intends to run for the treasurer role within the Institution of Engineers of Kenya during the upcoming elections, with ultimate aspirations for the presidencya rank no woman has yet attained in the organization.
“Through all of this, my objective is to motivate a new cohort of engineers, particularly women, to recognize that their potential has no boundaries,” she concluded, “while establishing frameworks that facilitate their future success.”