Kenya to Double Power Imports From Ethiopia Amid Rising Electricity Demand

By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter

Kenya, May 22, 2026 - Kenya Power is set to double electricity imports from Ethiopia as Kenya moves to meet growing domestic demand and stabilise power supply across the country.

The plan signals deepening regional energy integration between the two countries at a time when electricity demand is rising due to industrial expansion, urbanisation and the rapid growth of electric mobility.

According to a report, Kenya intends to increase imported electricity through the Ethiopia-Kenya High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission line, a major regional power connectivity project linking the two economies.

The development comes as Kenya grapples with growing electricity consumption driven by increased industrial activity and the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Recently, Kenya Power revealed it had earned KSh382 million from rising electric vehicle charging demand, reflecting how energy consumption patterns are beginning to shift.

Kenya has historically relied heavily on geothermal energy, hydroelectricity, wind and thermal generation to power its economy. However, rising demand is now pushing the country to seek additional supply sources within the region.

The Ethiopia-Kenya power interconnection allows Kenya to access surplus electricity generated from Ethiopia’s large hydropower projects, including the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Ethiopia has increasingly positioned itself as an emerging regional electricity exporter after heavily investing in hydropower infrastructure over the past decade.

The imported electricity is also expected to help Kenya reduce reliance on expensive thermal power generation, which often pushes up electricity costs during periods of drought or supply shortages.

Kenya’s electricity demand has continued rising steadily, fuelled by manufacturing growth, digital infrastructure expansion and the electrification of transport systems.

The growth of electric buses, motorcycles and charging stations is now adding a new layer of demand pressure to the grid.

At the same time, the government has been pushing industrialisation under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), further increasing the need for stable and affordable electricity supply.

The move also reflects the growing importance of regional power-sharing arrangements across East Africa.

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The Ethiopia-Kenya transmission line was designed not only to improve energy security but also to support cross-border electricity trade within the Eastern Africa Power Pool.

Energy experts argue that interconnected grids help countries balance supply shortages, reduce generation costs and improve stability during periods of disruption.

For Kenya, access to cheaper Ethiopian hydropower could help ease pressure on consumers and industries facing rising production costs.

However, the growing reliance on imported electricity may also raise concerns about long-term energy dependence.

Kenya has spent years positioning itself as a regional renewable energy leader, particularly through geothermal development. Increasing reliance on imported electricity could therefore reopen debate around energy security and strategic dependence on neighbouring countries.

The conversation mirrors wider global concerns emerging around critical infrastructure and external reliance, especially at a time when geopolitical tensions are reshaping energy markets worldwide.

The decision comes as countries globally reassess energy strategies following disruptions in oil and gas markets caused by ongoing geopolitical tensions, including instability in the Middle East.

Across Africa, governments are increasingly pursuing regional energy integration as a way of reducing costs and improving resilience against global energy shocks.

For Ethiopia, electricity exports represent a growing source of foreign exchange revenue. For Kenya, they offer a short-term solution to rising demand pressure.

Kenya’s decision to double power imports from Ethiopia reflects both opportunity and vulnerability. Opportunity because regional integration could lower electricity costs and improve supply stability.

Vulnerability because growing economies ultimately depend on secure control over strategic energy systems.

And as demand continues rising, the bigger question may no longer be whether Kenya needs imported power, but how dependent it is willing to become.