CCG in Kenya

Overview

CCG has been working with Kenya since early 2021 and it was CCG’s first partner country. Our institutional partners are based at the Strathmore Energy Research Centre of Strathmore University; however, we are working with a wide range of Kenyan institutions, including the Ministry of Energy, and Nairobi University.

In Kenya, we are working towards resilient economic growth that is supported by the Government of Kenya’s implementation of evidence-based, inclusive, low-emission development policy. We are also striving to mobilise finance for infrastructure that supports low-carbon, inclusive growth.

To reach these goals, we conduct a range of research and collaboration outputs, including co-creation workshops and capacity building events.

The Kenya CCG Network Special interest Groups

The Kenya CCG Network is made up of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) featuring Kenyan experts from academia, government departments, development banks, and other areas working alongside us. Each SIG works on one of the priority areas identified by our clients and all the SIGs collaborate periodically to create a more complete picture of Kenya’s energy challenges and the possible solutions. They call on CCG resources when necessary.

The Kenya CCG Network currently contains five SIGs

SIG 1: National Energy Planning

In 2021 the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum asked us to support the planning process within the least-cost power development planning (LCPDP) team. Specifically, they wanted help with acquiring modern energy planning tools, and training to give their teams the skills to use them effectively. Since then, we have been supporting them and together we have co-created a Kenya-specific power system model using OSeMOSYS and FlexTool.

Achievements: From August 2021, there were six co-creation workshops. The LCPDP team are now using the OSeMOSYS and FlexTool tools independently and have used them in the most recent iteration of the Fourth Medium Term Plan document (2023–2027). This is an interim policy document with the aim of achieving Kenya’s Vision 2030.

Current Activities: This SIG is now looking to investigate how to generate a whole energy system model (rather than solely modelling the power sector). This will incorporate new technologies such as green hydrogen, and also learn from the outputs of the other SIGs such as clean cooking and transport.

SIG Members: Ministry of Energy and Petroleum plus the seven primary Kenyan utilities: (i) Kenya Power and Lighting Company; (ii) Kenya Power; (iii) Energy and Petroleum Regulation Authority; (iv) Kenya Electricity and Generation Company; (v) Ge o thermal Development Company; (vi) Nuclear Power and Energy Agency; (vii) Kenya Electricity Transmission Company.

SIG 2: County Energy Planning

As Kenya’s 47 counties work to produce decentralised County Energy Plans (CEPs), there is a need for coordination and standardisation to enable the aggregation of the CEPs into a national plan, as intended by the Energy Act (2019). So this SIG aims to do that and, in turn, support the County Integrated Development Plans process which goes beyond the energy sector. The findings in this SIG will then link to national planning activities. It will also be important as the Integrated Energy Planning (INEP) framework takes shape.

Achievements: So far, this group has published three working papers:

Current Activities: This SIG has just finalised the paper above (bullet 3) about the markers of inequality, which will inform the INEP framework process about redefining what it means to be ‘inclusive’ when planning at the county level. This SIG is expanding its approach to other counties and connecting the county-level data and needs to the national level energy planning.

SIG members: Strathmore University, University of Nairobi, Association for Electric Mobility & Development in Africa, and Sustainable Transport Africa

SIG 3: Low-Emission Transport

The Kenyan Government has set a target for the electrification of transport with the intention of a national rollout of EVs and charging stations. They are aiming for 5% of all imported vehicles to be electric by 2025, with two-wheelers likely to dominate this.

Some insights suggest that Kenya has the largest EV potential in East Africa and could become an electric two-wheeler assembly hub for the region. However, there are many questions around how this ambition should be met and some reservations around if it should be realised at all.

Achievements: This SIG created the Transport-Energy Database: Kenya covering technology, energy demand and policies relating to the Kenyan transport-energy system. It was compiled using data sources from the IEA, World Bank, Kenyan Government, EnergyData.info and the TraCs project.

It also built Kenya’s Transport Energy Air pollution Model which provides a transport, energy and environment modelling framework to explore Kenyan transport futures and trial policies.

Current Activities: We will shortly be handing over the TEAM Kenya model to the SIG members listed below. This will ensure continued use of the model by academics and government officials well into the future.

SIG members: Strathmore University, EED Advisory, independent consultants, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Access Coalition, SETA, World Resource Institute

SIG 4: Policy Pathways

There is a global need to build evidence on the systemic factors that lead to failures or successes of policy development and implementation, in order to create a thriving, low-emissions future. The same applies in Kenya. This group’s research outputs focus on gender, equality, and social inclusion (GESI) issues, the political economy of power planning, and ways in which policy making capacity can be supported at the county level. Most of the research outputs from this SIG inform other stakeholders within the Kenya CCG Network about ways to become more inclusive and to ensure there is a social justice aspect in the planning of future energy and transport transition policies.

Achievements: So far, we have produced two Policy Briefs:

Beyond devolution: unlocking county energy departments; policy capacity in Kenya offers policy recommendations on how to address analytical, operational and political barriers in county-level governments.

The Political Economy of Power Planning in Kenya reviews the long-term power planning process and provides recommendations to this framework.

Current Activities: There is an ongoing Flexible Research Fund project entitled Policies for enhanced transition to sustainable energy systems in Kenya which will complete in 2024. It draws upon lessons learned from the Innovation and Renewable Electrification in Kenya project.

SIG members: Stockholm Environment Institute Africa , Nuvoni Centre for Innovation Research , Strathmore University , various consultants, and EED Advisory

SIG 5: Clean Cooking

In 2021, the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum requested technical assistance to develop a Kenya National Clean Cooking Strategy (KNCCS) and a National eCooking Strategy (KNeCS) to achieve universal access to clean cooking services by 2028. The Clean Cooking Strategy is a roadmap for achieving universal access, while the eCooking Strategy is a pathway for accelerating uptake of cooking with electricity specifically. The project is funded by the ETC’s Rapid Response Facility. CCG plays a coordination role in this SIG but does not contribute research expertise.

Achievements: We held the Kenya National electric Cooking Study (KNeCS) Stakeholder Workshop in June 2023

Current Activities: Some SIG members have been interfacing with other SIGs to see how cooking can be incorporated into the whole energy system model (National Planning SIG) and be taken into account at the county level (County Level Planning SIG).

SIG members:

Modern Electric Cooking Services, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, French Development Agency, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Nuvoni Centre for Innovation Research, Strathmore University, and EED Advisory

Energy Modelling for Kenya

CCG runs regular ‘Summer Schools’ to build practical knowledge of how to use various Energy Modelling tools such as OSeMOSYS, MAED and Flextool. These take place in Africa, Latin America and Europe and are open to participants from across the world. To date, 46 people from Kenya have participated in these Summer Schools and the response to the quality of teaching has been excellent.

The Kenya CCG Network Team

The Team consists of the following people:

In-Country:
Mr Martin Mutembei mmutembei@strathmore.edu
Kenya CCG Network Lead Coordinator, Strathmore University – Energy Research Centre

Martin Mutembei works on initiatives in Consultancy, Research and Training. He worked at Africa Nazarene University as a lecturer and Telkom Kenya in ICT projects management spheres. He is passionate about promoting adoption of energy solutions that are clean, reliable, and sustainable through training and designing solutions that enable sustainable energy transitions.

Currently he is working with the CCG National Partnerships team to coordinate the research activities in the Kenya CCG Network. This entails supporting researchers, influencers and decision-makers, working together in Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to co-create and implement research that harness CCG-derived evidence, tools and frameworks.

Martin holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Management. He also has training in Enterprise Design Thinking (IBM Training), Solar PV Standalone and Solar PV Grid Tie Systems training.

Anne Nganga
Kenya CCG Network Project Assistant

Anne Nganga is a young dedicated professional, driven by a profound passion for advancing renewable energy solutions. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Renewable Energy Technology at Kenyatta University. With a Bachelor’s degree in Geomatics and Geospatial Information Systems from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Anne Nganga brings a strong foundation in data analysis and research methodologies. Having honed skills in GIS, remote sensing and statistical analysis, Anne is committed to leveraging their expertise to contribute meaningfully to the Climate Compatible Growth agenda. With a focus on fostering sustainable energy transitions and a deep-seated desire to make a positive impact on the environment, Anne is poised to drive transformative change in the renewable energy sector.

Dr Patrick Kioki Mwanzia

Patrick Mwanzia is a researcher at Strathmore Energy Research Centre with more than six years of experience in conducting research in the sustainable energy sector.

In this capacity, he has researched and managed projects covering diverse aspects of sustainable energy and community development, including energy provision in humanitarian settings. He holds a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and an MSc degree in Energy Policy and Management from Pan African University Institute of Water and Energy Science (PAUWES), Algeria.

He is also a registered graduate engineer with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). His research interests are renewable energy technologies and the energy policy and regulatory framework.

UK-based (Centre for Global Equality and University of Cambridge)
Dr Beth Tennyson elizabeth.tennyson@centreforglobalequality.org
Dr Kirsty Mackinlay kirsty.mackinlay@centreforglobalequality.org
Dr Lara Allen lara.allen@centreforglobalequality.org [profile]

Publications

Perceived values and climate change resilience dataset in Siaya County, Kenya is the most recent publication from the country team.

Another recent publication, relevant to Kenya is: “Towards equitable climate-compatible
transport pathways in Kenya: modelling co-created scenarios using a socio-technical approach” which was launched at COP28.

Research

All the research related to Kenya can be found on the CCG Research Index here.

Other Outputs

In September 2024, a Kenya CCG held a three day training programme in the OSeMOSYS and FinPlan energy modelling tools. Around 38 Master’s students attended. Find out more here

So far, there have been four annual workshops in Kenya. The most recent one took place in February 2024.

Read the full report by Dr Beth Tennyson.