Private mini-power grids light up life in rural Kenya

With a warm smile and visible pride, 75-year-old Justine Makokha welcomes us into her modest home in Matayos Village. Her joy is unmistakable, she has electricity for the first time in her life.

“This has changed everything for me,” she says.

Makokha is among nearly 3,000 residents in this region now benefiting from a steady and affordable power supply, thanks to an innovative solar mini-grid project.

“Our security has improved, and we can now charge our phones right at home, unlike before, when we had to walk several kilometres to Gamba and pay for the service,” she adds.

A short walk from her home, the rhythmic hum of Emily Akumu’s posho mill tells another story of transformation. Her once-struggling business is now thriving, powered by the same off-grid solution.

“We used to suffer. Now, everything is easier, from business to daily life,” Ms Akumu remarks.

Kudura Power East Africa, the company behind this initiative, currently operates 11 mini-grid sites across Matayos, Samia, and Teso North, with a combined installed capacity of 283.8 kilowatts - quietly powering a new era of growth.

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“These decentralised systems are not only effective but also cost-efficient to implement,” says Robert Oduor, Kudura’s county business manager.

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) supports such private-led efforts to complement the national grid in the race toward universal power access.

Mr Mungai Kihara, Epra's Deputy Director of Renewable Energy, notes that the initiative, launched in 2022, has enabled remote communities to enjoy the benefits of electricity once reserved for urban centres.

“With competing national priorities, the private sector has stepped in to support our universal access goals,” Kihara explains.

He adds that Epra has intensified efforts to license mini-grid developers, enforce safety and technical standards, and strike a balance between affordable tariffs for consumers and fair returns for investors.

While the national grid targets dense and peri-urban areas, mini-grids are bridging the gap in remote, sparsely populated regions where grid extension is not economically viable.

Epra is currently issuing licenses under interim guidelines but awaits the enactment of comprehensive regulations submitted to the Energy Ministry, rules that will provide a clearer framework for private investment.

“We ensure transparency in tariff calculations and engage stakeholders actively. Our officers also visit sites to educate residents on cost structures,” Kihara says.

He acknowledges challenges such as grid encroachment, where the national network overlaps with existing mini-grid territories. New regulations, he says, will outline options such as integration, asset buyout, or relocation for affected operators.

Private developers echo this concern. “Our greatest challenge is when Kenya Power extends the grid into areas we already serve,” Mr Oduor notes.

Kudura Power is currently expanding its renewable energy mini-grids in Turkana and Busia, offering not just electricity but employment opportunities to local communities.

Oduor emphasises the cost benefits: “A household connection can cost as little as Sh6,000, which covers wiring and setup. The rest is recovered through split-billing token payments.”

To promote tariff equity, Epra is exploring capital subsidies and cost-sharing mechanisms, particularly for public mini-grids, an approach that may eventually include private projects.

“Standardising tariffs is complex due to site-specific variables like logistics and financing, but the goal is a unified pricing structure nationwide,” says Kihara.

Kenya has made remarkable progress in electrification, rising from 32 percent access a decade ago to nearly 75 percent today, a feat driven significantly by the growth of mini-grids.

“Our aim is not to promote mini-grids for their own sake, but to ensure that every Kenyan, no matter where they live, has access to reliable, affordable electricity,” Kihara affirms.

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