Kenya, 28 October 2025 -Kenya’s reliance on imported electricity has reached a new high as the country strives to meet its growing energy demand hitting a 150.45 million kilowatt-hours.
In August, the nation marked a five percent increase from 142.36 million kWh in July, according to data from Kenya Power.
The spike was largely fueled by higher imports from Uganda, which has strengthened its power exchange with Kenya through improved transmission infrastructure.
The record import levels highlight Kenya’s ongoing challenge of meeting rising domestic consumption amid fluctuations in local power generation. With industries expanding and urban populations increasing, demand for reliable and affordable electricity continues to outpace supply, making regional energy trade a crucial stopgap for the country’s power stability.
Uganda emerged as Kenya’s leading power supplier during the period, nearly doubling its exports from 18.95 million kWh in July to 32.5 million kWh in August.
This surge offset a slight decline in electricity imports from Ethiopia, which fell from 122.08 million kWh in July to 117.77 million kWh in August.
The spike in imports from Uganda follows the completion of a new cross-border transmission line linking the two nations.
The upgraded infrastructure has improved the reliability and capacity of electricity flow, particularly benefiting western Kenya, which often experiences power shortages.
Kenya’s growing import levels highlight the country’s ongoing struggle to balance domestic generation with rising consumption.
While Kenya continues to expand its renewable energy capacity mainly from geothermal, hydro, and wind sources seasonal fluctuations in hydropower generation and delayed infrastructure projects have increased the need for imports to stabilize supply.
Energy experts suggest that regional power trade will remain vital for Kenya in the short to medium term, as it allows the country to draw from neighboring nations during periods of low local generation.
However, they also stress the importance of investing in local generation capacity and grid efficiency to reduce dependency and ensure long-term energy security.