Kenya to Fully Transition to Clean Energy by 2030 - President Uhuru Kenyatta

Kenya is on course to achieving the full transition to clean energy by the year 2030. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta made the announcement on Tuesday during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland.

Kenyatta stated that renewable energy currently accounts for 73% of Kenya's installed power generation capacity while 90% of electricity in use is from green sources among them geothermal, wind, solar, and hydro-electric installations.

"Renewable energy in Kenya currently accounts for 73% of the installed power generation capacity, while 90% of the electricity in use is from clean sources. We are on course to achieve our target of 100% use of clean energy by 2030 and to achieve 100% access to clean cooking by 2028," the Head of State said. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta and legend marathoner Eliud Kipchoge 

The President noted that the energy sector accounts for most of the global greenhouse gas emissions saying the world's greatest challenge was innovating new low carbon energy solutions.

"The energy sector accounts for three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions. The critical challenge, therefore, is how to reduce carbon emissions from the energy sector while ensuring that all people have access to clean energy. We urgently need new and improved clean energy technologies that meet the energy demand without exacerbating greenhouse gas emissions," he said.

President Kenyatta highlighted the strides Kenya had made in expanding access to clean and affordable energy. 

"Kenya has made significant progress in advancing access to affordable, and clean energy for all. In this regard, we have increased access to electricity from below 30% in 2013 to over 75% in 2020.

"We have installed the biggest wind power plant in sub-Sahara Africa - the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project, and are steadily exploiting and deploying available geothermal potential, currently estimated to be 10,000 Megawatts," he said.

US President Joe Biden

The meeting was also addressed by several world leaders including UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden. 

In his address, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK was determined to make clean power the most affordable and reliable option by 2030, and for zero-emissions vehicles to be the new normal in all its regions.

“By making clean (energy) technology the most affordable, accessible, and attractive choice, the default go-to in what are currently the most polluting sectors, we can cut emissions right around the world.

“The Glasgow breakthroughs will turbocharge this forward, so that, by 2030, clean technologies can be enjoyed everywhere, not only (by) reducing emissions but also creating more jobs and greater prosperity," the British PM said.