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- Kenya's Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Charts a New Course with Launch of Strategic Plan 2023–2027
Kenya's Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Charts a New Course with Launch of Strategic Plan 2023–2027
Gerald Kombo
May 19, 2025
(Photos Courtesy of Joseph Kiptarus)
In a landmark move signaling continuity, reform, and an ambitious green trajectory, the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum unveiled its Strategic Plan for 2023–2027 at a formal launch ceremony held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. The launch brought together top officials from across energy parastatals, sector partners, and ministry staff. While Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir was away on official duties, his full support for the launch was communicated in a speech delivered on his behalf by a senior official in the ministry, who delivered a frank, forward-looking, and call-to-action address.
Acknowledging the Past, Preparing for the Future
Mohamed Liban, CBS Principal Secretary, State Department for Petroleum, began by grounding the event in context, acknowledging that while the CS could not attend, his full commitment to the plan remained unwavering. This symbolic presence, he said, emphasized not just endorsement but expectation.
The ministry has in recent years experienced a series of profound transitions: from institutional restructuring to policy modernization, from addressing internal management bottlenecks to responding to external political shifts. Reflecting on the Strategic Plan 2018–2022, the ministry highlighted a number of notable accomplishments. Key among them were:
The formulation and implementation of the Energy Policy (2018).
The Energy Act (2019) and Petroleum Act (2019), which now govern the sector’s operations.
The development of the Bioenergy Strategy, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (2020), and a revamped National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy.
Better sector planning through instruments like the Least Cost Power Development Plan and Petroleum Development Plan.
Acceleration of electricity access and rural connectivity.
And perhaps most crucially, the rescue and reform of critical state corporations.
These were strategic actions taken in a challenging period—marked by a pandemic, supply chain crises, and global market disruptions—but we still pushed forward.
Institutional Reforms: NOCK, KPRL, Kenya Power
Key highlights of the address focused on structural reform within energy parastatals.
NOCK has undergone a major restructuring, adopting a new business model. This includes a new partnership currently being negotiated to ensure NOCK's commercial viability and position it as a reliable player in fuel and LPG supply.
We’re not done yet,
but we now have a working model that can scale.
KPRL is being dissolved, with its staff already transitioned to Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC). This shift consolidates petroleum logistics under one entity, which is expected to bring efficiencies and reduce duplication.
Kenya Power has also been placed under rigorous reform to improve financial stability and operational efficiency.
Kenya Power has been stabilized. It is not perfect, but it is much more predictable now.
Strategic Plan 2023–2027: A New Era
The newly launched Strategic Plan, spanning five years, signals the ministry’s commitment to adapt to both local needs and global energy transitions. The plan articulates goals centered around energy security, clean energy access, infrastructure modernization, and economic alignment.
Key focus areas include:
Expanding renewable energy development.
Scaling up clean cooking access, especially through LPG and alternatives.
Promoting electric mobility and electrifying mass transit systems.
Modernizing power transmission and distribution.
Encouraging energy efficiency.
Accelerating innovation—battery storage, smart grids, off-grid systems.
We must create not only reliable energy systems, but future-facing ones—systems that serve our citizens today and are ready for tomorrow.
Urgency, Accountability, and Public Trust
Throughout the speech, a clear theme emerged: governance, urgency, and engagement. The ministry, recognizing increasing public scrutiny, pledged to uphold transparency and resist shortcuts.
We are in a different era—of accountability. The public is watching, Parliament is asking questions, and the media is documenting everything. If you do anything—ask yourself if you can stand up to scrutiny. If not, don’t do it.
He called on all parastatal heads and ministry staff to clear internal backlogs, fast-track pending reforms, and adopt a proactive mindset.
Let’s do the job in front of us. It is time we stop waiting for pressure to act.
On public and community engagement, he cited examples where energy sector decisions faced backlash due to poor communication.
We must go out, explain ourselves, answer questions, even when uncomfortable.
This, he argued, would strengthen trust and sectoral resilience:
You must be ready to be interrogated. As long as you followed the law, the policy, and your mandate—you have nothing to fear.
A Message to All: Get It Done, the Right Way
To conclude, CS Wandayi issued a passionate call to action.
The plan is not just a document. It’s a commitment. Let’s own it, implement it, and make the sector one that delivers value to the Kenyan people.
As Kenya positions itself as a regional energy hub and sustainability leader, the 2023–2027 Strategic Plan will serve as a guiding beacon. The task now, he stressed, is implementation—with urgency, integrity, and a firm eye on the future.