Nairobi: The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) and experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are meeting this week in Nairobi to strengthen Kenya’s plan for a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy future. The Regional Meeting, which runs up to Friday, is meant to examine approaches to Climate, Land-use, Energy and Water Systems (CLEWS).
According to Kenya News Agency, the week-long discussions are taking place as Kenya navigates growing electricity demand and the need to ensure that future energy investments support economic growth while strengthening energy security. As the country advances its long-term ambition to diversify its energy mix by complementing its predominantly renewable energy base with reliable, low-carbon technologies, including nuclear power, integrated planning has become increasingly important.
During the opening ceremony of the conference, the Principal Secretary (PS) for Energy, Alex Wachira maintained that the Integrated National Energy Plan (INEP) requires decisions to look beyond immediate needs and consider how different energy choices will perform over the long term. ‘This meeting therefore looks at how energy demand, climate change, water availability, land use, technology, and cost interact so that the decisions we make today deliver a secure and sustainable energy system for tomorrow,’ highlighted the PS.
On his part, Dr. (Eng.) Joseph Oketch, the EPRA Ag. Director General (DG) announced that Kenya has built a strong foundation in renewable energy, particularly geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar power, and there is a need to expand this energy mix to include emerging energy sources while working with multiple sectors. ‘Guided by the Energy (Integrated National Energy Plan) Regulations, 2025, the Authority is keen on providing guidelines to implement these energy sources through public participation, and strengthening the technical capacity needed to inform Kenya’s long-term energy decisions,’ Dr. Oketch stated.
Meanwhile, the meeting is convened under the IAEA’s African Regional Cooperative Agreement (AFRA), which brings together 50 African States, including Kenya, to advance the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology to development priorities. Under AFRA’s energy programme, Technical Cooperation Project RAF2015 is strengthening countries’ capacity for integrated energy planning.
Further, the meeting builds on the momentum of the International Conference on Nuclear Energy (ICoNE 2026), led by President, Dr. William Ruto, which reaffirmed Kenya’s ambition to develop up to 6,000 MW of nuclear power as part of its long-term industrialisation strategy, alongside ongoing site identification and characterisation in Kilifi and Siaya and efforts to strengthen the policy, legal and institutional frameworks for safe and responsible nuclear development.
In the meantime, EPRA is Kenya’s National Counterpart Institution for Project RAF2015 and coordinates the implementation of the project’s activities in the country. The regional meeting provides an opportunity for participating countries to share experiences, strengthen technical capabilities, and learn from approaches being applied across Africa to address complex energy planning challenges.
