The 2026 International Day of Clean Energy commemorated in Kitui on Monday January 26, 2026 gave lifelines on inclusive economic and social development to vulnerable households, women, youth and enterprises in the county by providing them with the last-mile electrification projects.

  The initiatives demonstrate the power of devolution in accelerating clean energy adoption, empowering communities, and strengthening local economies.

  As part of the commemoration, the State Department for Energy donated efficient charcoal kilns and briquetting machines and distributed clean cook stoves to the groups in Kitui Central and Kitui West constituencies.

  Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi backed by Petroleum Principal Secretary Alex Wachira visited various homesteads in the.  two constituencies where they sensitized citizens on the clean energy which is not only an environmental imperative but also a foundation for public health, economic opportunity, social equity, and long-term development for present and future generations.

  “This year’s theme, “Clean Energy for People and Planet,” speaks directly to Kenya’s national priorities and our global commitments. At the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, we recognize that the energy transition goes beyond infrastructure and megawatts. It is about people—reducing health risks, creating livelihoods, empowering women and youth, and ensuring that no Kenyan is left behind,” Wandayi said.

  Speaking at the Kitui Energy Centre, Matinyani and Mutonguni wards, Wandayi said Kenya has made significant progress with electricity access now standing at approximately 75 percent.

  Also present included the county commissioner, Erastus Mbui, Kitui West MP, Edith Nyenze, MCAs Munyalo Kitheka (Matinyani), Muthengi Ndagara (Tharaka) and Benjamin Mulandi (Mutonguni).

  The CS however, said on the clean cooking front, the challenge is larger, as only 34.4 percent of households have access to clean cooking solutions. Besides, an estimated 26,000 Kenyans die annually from household air pollution. Closing this gap is urgent and non-negotiable, he said.

  Wandayi said clean energy is central to the national development agenda. “It underpins the achievement of Vision 2030, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, and our Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement. The Government remains firmly committed to achieving universal access to electricity and clean cooking by 2030, driven by sustained investment in renewable energy,” Wandayi said.

  To support this ambition, the CS said his ministry has established a strong and coherent policy framework, including the National Energy Policy, Energy Transition and Investment Plan, National Cooking Transition Strategy, National Energy Compact, National Energy Efficiency Strategy, Bioenergy Strategy and Action Plan, and the draft National Electrification Strategy.

  He said implementation is guided by an Integrated Energy Planning approach, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and devolution.

  In collaboration with partners such as the European Union, GIZ, UNDP, and UK PACT, Wandayi said Kitui and other counties are developing County Energy Plans that serve as practical roadmaps for expanding access to clean and sustainable energy while strengthening partnerships across government, the private sector, civil society, and communities.

  “Kenya’s installed electricity generation capacity stands at 3,243 megawatts, against a peak demand of 2,444.4 megawatts. Notably, 80 percent of installed capacity and 93 percent of consumed electricity comes from renewable sources. We continue to integrate wind and solar with geothermal and hydropower, supported by enhanced grid stability,” he said.

  The CS pointed out that geothermal remains the nation’s anchor resource, accounting for 26 percent of installed capacity, followed by hydropower at 24 percent, wind at 12 percent, and solar at 12.4 percent.

  Kenya is also interconnected with the power grids of Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, enabling regional power trade that reduces emissions, enhances energy security, and supports economic growth and innovation.

  He said clean cooking remained a national priority adding that to address its health, environmental, and socio-economic impacts, the government is promoting a diversified mix of solutions—including LPG, electric cooking, bioethanol, biogas, briquettes and pellets, and improved biomass cookstoves—to ensure affordability, accessibility, and sustainability.

 “As we mark this International Day of Clean Energy, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to accelerating access through sound policies, inclusive action, and innovation. Our goal is clear: to ensure that clean energy is available, affordable, and accessible to every Kenyan household, driving growth, advancing equity, and strengthening climate resilience,” Wandayi said.

 The CS said clean energy access is a shared national mission. “Together, we can power progress, uplift communities, and safeguard our nation for generations to come,” he said.