State-owned power producer KenGen has launched its first-ever sustainability report, outlining an ambitious plan to add 5,500 megawatts of renewable and clean energy capacity by 2034, as the company positions itself at the centre of Kenya’s green industrialisation agenda.
The inaugural report, covering the 2024/25 financial year, marks the first time in the company’s more than 70-year history that it has publicly consolidated its environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance into a single sustainability framework.
Speaking during the launch, Managing Director and CEO Peter Njenga said sustainability has moved beyond corporate social responsibility to become a core business strategy guiding investment, risk management and long-term growth.
According to the report, 94.4 per cent of KenGen’s electricity dispatch during the reporting period came from renewable sources, while the company generated 6.9 million carbon credits through its operations.
KenGen says it now aims to become Africa’s leading provider of renewable energy solutions by 2034 through expanded geothermal generation, energy storage systems and the development of Kenya’s first Green Energy Park in Olkaria.
The company also confirmed it has been designated to own and operate Kenya’s first nuclear power plant, expected to contribute 2,000MW to the national grid as part of its overall expansion target.
Beyond electricity generation, the report highlights investments in landscape restoration, community development, education, water access and local enterprise programmes, with KenGen targeting the planting of nine million trees by 2034.
Speaking at the launch, Festus Ng’eno said the energy sector remains Kenya’s strongest-performing climate mitigation sector.
“The energy sector is the only green sector,” he said, urging more public institutions and private companies to publish sustainability reports to improve environmental accountability.
The Principal Secretary noted that sustainability reporting would become increasingly important as investors place greater emphasis on environmental, social and governance performance when making investment decisions.
KenGen says its sustainability strategy aligns with Kenya’s development agenda, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Global Compact, and the Global Reporting Initiative standards.
“This report is more than a corporate publication; it is a public commitment to transparency, accountability and responsible business. It demonstrates how we create value for our shareholders, protect the environment, support communities and contribute to Kenya’s sustainable economic transformation,” said KenGen Managing Director and CEO Eng. Peter Njenga.
For a company that already supplies much of Kenya’s renewable electricity, the report signals a broader shift, from measuring success in megawatts alone to being judged on environmental stewardship, community impact and long-term climate resilience.
