The Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi has reveled plans by the government that will see Gogo Falls in Uriri sub-county, Migori County, slated for a significant upgrade that will increase its power generation capacity from the current 2MW to 8.6MW.

CS Wandayi who was on his first official visit to the KenGen-run plant emphasized the government’s commitment to transitioning to 100% green energy by 2030.

Despite renewable energy sources currently accounting for 80% of the national energy mix, he stated that sustainable exploitation of existing potential is crucial to bridging the remaining gap. The upgrade of Gogo Falls is a key part of this strategy.

“It is out of this realisation that we purpose to capitalise on the potential of sites such as Gogo among many other renewable sources to meet the demand,” he said.

In addition to the Gogo Falls project, CS Wandayi noted that the government has 127 other projects in the South Nyanza region under the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), with a total investment of Shs.799.22 million. These projects, at various stages of implementation, are expected to connect 18,022 new customers to the national grid.

To ensure the safe use of energy with increased connectivity, CS Wandayi launched a multi-sectoral nationwide safety campaign dubbed “Kaa Safe Mtaani,” aimed at promoting the safe handling, use, and storage of electricity and gas.

“We need to be weary of the potential dangers posed by electricity and gas, and therefore, proper usage and storage are important comments to consider in this journey,” he added.

The upgrade of Gogo Falls and the ongoing REREC projects reflect the government’s commitment to providing clean, efficient, reliable, and affordable energy to its citizens while prioritizing safety.

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