By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 17 June 2026 - Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi has intensified efforts to secure Treasury backing for one of Kenya's most ambitious energy projects, signalling that the proposed 2,000-megawatt Siaya Nuclear Power Plant is moving from political aspiration towards budgetary planning.
Wandayi on Wednesday held high-level consultations with Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning John Mbadi to align funding priorities for strategic energy projects under the 2026/27 financial year, underscoring the government's determination to diversify Kenya's electricity mix as demand continues to rise.
Also present at the meeting were Principal Secretary for Public Investments and Assets Management Dr Cyrell Wagunda Odede, Principal Secretary for Energy Alex Wachira and senior government officials involved in the country's long-term energy planning.
At the centre of the discussions was the financing and implementation framework for the proposed Siaya Nuclear Power Plant, a flagship project expected to generate 2,000MW of clean baseload electricity and fundamentally reshape Kenya's energy landscape over the coming decades.
The project forms part of the Kenya Kwanza administration's broader strategy to guarantee long-term energy security, reduce dependence on weather-sensitive power sources and provide reliable electricity needed to sustain industrialisation and economic expansion.
Unlike renewable sources such as solar and wind, nuclear energy provides continuous baseload power, making it increasingly attractive as Kenya seeks to support energy-intensive manufacturing, digital infrastructure and emerging industries.
Wandayi said the discussions represented a significant milestone in positioning Kenya's energy sector to support future economic growth and industrial competitiveness.
"Kenya's future economic growth will depend on reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity. The proposed Siaya Nuclear Power Plant is a strategic national investment that will provide clean baseload power, strengthen energy security and support our industrialisation agenda. We are working closely with the National Treasury to ensure this and other priority energy projects receive adequate funding and are implemented within the planned timelines," Wandayi said.
He argued that the project extends beyond electricity generation and should be viewed as a catalyst for broader economic transformation.
"This is not merely an energy project; it is an investment in Kenya's economic future. Reliable power is the foundation upon which manufacturing, value addition, job creation and investor confidence are built. Our collaboration with the Treasury demonstrates the government's commitment to delivering transformative infrastructure that will benefit generations to come," he added.
The consultations reflect the growing coordination between the Energy Ministry and the National Treasury as the government prepares to commit substantial resources towards strategic infrastructure despite mounting fiscal pressures and competing budgetary demands.
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For Mbadi, the discussions present a delicate balancing act between maintaining fiscal discipline and financing transformative projects capable of unlocking long-term economic growth.
The Treasury Cabinet Secretary said the government would continue supporting strategic investments that strengthen economic productivity while ensuring prudent management of public finances.
"Our responsibility is to ensure that every strategic investment is supported by a sound financing framework. The energy sector remains one of the key drivers of economic growth, and we shall continue working with the Ministry of Energy to prioritise projects that offer long-term value to the country while maintaining fiscal discipline," Mbadi said.
He noted that a reliable and sufficient power supply remains central to Kenya's industrial ambitions and economic competitiveness.
"Reliable and sufficient electricity supply is indispensable to Kenya's development ambitions under Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. Treasury will continue supporting investments that enhance competitiveness, expand economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for Kenyans," Mbadi added.
The proposed Siaya Nuclear Power Plant is expected to become one of Kenya's largest infrastructure investments, positioning the country among a small but growing group of African nations exploring commercial nuclear energy as part of their future electricity generation mix.
If implemented as planned, the project could significantly increase Kenya's installed generation capacity, strengthen grid reliability and reinforce the country's ambition to become East Africa's industrial and manufacturing hub.
The latest consultations therefore signal more than a routine budget meeting. They represent a strategic convergence between fiscal policy and energy planning as the government seeks to transform one of its most ambitious infrastructure visions into a funded national priority with far-reaching implications for Kenya's economic future.