Kenya has taken a historic step toward introducing nuclear energy into its national grid after the government formally designated the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) as the owner-operator of the country’s first nuclear power plant.

The expanded KenGen portfolio marks the beginning of the nation’s nuclear-power era.

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi presided over the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between KenGen and the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) in Nairobi, setting the stage for one of the country’s most ambitious energy projects.

Wandayi noted that the move aligns with President William Ruto’s directive to add 10 gigawatts (GW) of electricity within seven years to propel Kenya into first-world economic status.

“This marks the beginning of Kenya’s nuclear-power era. Assigning KenGen ownership-operator role ensures the programme is anchored in strong technical capability, public trust and long-term national interest,” Wandayi made the assurance.

He explained that the initial nuclear facility would produce about 2,000 megawatts (2GW), with plans to scale up to 6GW, contributing significantly toward the President Ruto’s 10GW target. Further, Wandayi disclosed, NuPEA has already identified potential sites in Kilifi, Kwale and Siaya counties for expansion.

“Kenya is a leader in renewable energy, not only in Africa, but globally in geothermal development and now we are taking a leading role in nuclear power in the region. This is a big milestone, and we must be proud of this achievement as a nation,” he expressed.

Meanwhile, the MoU establishes a Joint Engagement Framework to guide national readiness for nuclear power. In addition, the agreement will oversee one of Kenya’s most comprehensive public engagement initiatives that focuses on transparent communication, scientific accuracy and stakeholder involvement across all counties.

Under the framework, KenGen and NuPEA will form a Joint Working Group to develop a national communication and public-engagement strategy, map out key stakeholders across all counties, conduct nationwide public-education and media campaigns, convene technical forums and expert dialogues, train journalists, county officials, educators and community leaders on nuclear fundamentals, and establish a feedback and grievance-response system aligned with global standards.

Equally, the framework will also support early-stage siting and land-related processes, with KenGen contributing expertise from decades of executing large-scale infrastructure projects.

The cabinet secretary assured the country that all siting procedures would follow rigorous public participation standards and continuous disclosure to guarantee transparency.

 KenGen Board Chairman Alfred Agoi welcomed the designation, stressing that the company is prepared to lead Kenya into a new era of energy security.

“KenGen has long experience in construction, operation and maintenance of power plants from geothermal, hydro, wind to solar and we are now ready to lead the next phase to help Kenya develop its first nuclear power plant,” Agoi said.

“When the president announced that he needs 10,000 megawatts of power within 10 years, we knew this was a responsibility KenGen must take. We have the capacity and we are prepared to deliver,” he said.

NuPEA Chairman Lawrence Gumbe described the partnership as a turning point in Kenya’s transition from planning to implementation readiness.

“Nuclear power offers a very stable baseload, and its safety is comparable to solar and wind. We will work very hard to ensure that within the seven-year framework set by the president a significant part of Kenya’s power comes from nuclear energy,” Gumbe made the commitment.

KenGen Managing Director Peter Njenga said that the collaboration aligns with the company’s long-term strategy to build a diversified and secure clean-energy system.

“Today’s agreement marks a bold step forward for Kenya’s energy security. Nuclear energy is the next frontier for nations seeking stable, affordable, low-carbon baseload power. Our partnership with NuPEA signals our readiness to play a central role in shaping Kenya’s energy future, anchored in industrial growth, job creation, and global competitiveness,” he said.

Njenga added that the initiative was not just a communication effort but a national preparation effort.

“Our mandate is to ensure Kenyans have factual, accessible, and timely information as we evaluate this globally proven technology,” he pointed out.

In the meantime, NuPEA CEO Justus Wabuyabo maintained that the agency is fully committed to working with KenGen to meet the President’s timeline.

“What we can commit as NUPEA is that we are going to work hand-in-hand with KenGen to ensure that we fast-track the construction of the first nuclear plant. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2027, and we hope the energy can come on the grid within seven years,” Wabuyabo said.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Naif Rashid