(Left)Sean Lixiang, Director Huawei digital Power Department, (2nd Left) Eng. Maureen Mwaniki Director public Affairs Huawei Kenya, (Center) Alex Wachira, CBS Principal Secretary State Department of Energy, Eng Mary Njau representative from KPLC and (Right) Eng. Peter Njenga CEO of KenGen during the Kenya Energy Transition Forum 2026 in Nairobi.
NAIROBI, August 11, 2026 – Kenya is seeking to strengthen its electricity grid through battery energy storage, smart-grid technologies and digital solutions as rising power demand and increasing renewable-energy generation reshape the country’s energy system.
The State Department for Energy, in partnership with Huawei Kenya, convened the Kenya Energy Transition Forum 2026 in Nairobi, bringing together government officials, energy-sector players, technology experts and development partners to explore practical solutions for a stable, flexible and increasingly renewable-based electricity system.
Speaking during the Kenya Energy Transition Forum 2026, Principal Secretary for Energy Alex Wachira said Kenya had made significant progress in developing a clean electricity system, supported by abundant geothermal, hydro, wind and solar resources, but needed to modernise its grid as the share of variable renewable energy increased.
“The energy transition is therefore not simply about adding more renewable generation. It is also about modernising the electricity grid and transforming the way we plan, operate and manage the power system,” said Wachira.
He said battery energy storage would be critical in addressing the evening peak, reducing reliance on thermal generation and providing system inertia to improve grid stability.
Wachira noted that electricity demand had recently exceeded 2,500 megawatts and could rise further as new transmission infrastructure and other developments increase consumption, creating the need for adequate storage capacity.
“We need to discuss the capacity, the volume, the megawatt hours that we need. It is not a question of whether we need it. It is an issue of the megawatt hours that we do need in our grid,” he said.
He urged energy-sector institutions and technology providers to focus on practical solutions that can be deployed at scale, supported by appropriate investment, policy and regulatory frameworks.
“We are looking for the best solution for Kenyans in terms of quality, efficiency and price. Those three have to come hand in hand,” said Wachira.
Huawei Kenya Deputy CEO for Public Affairs JamesSun Quan said the company was committed to supporting Kenya’s energy transition by working with the government and industry stakeholders to address challenges arising from the rapid expansion of renewable energy.
“Huawei is proud to partner with the State Department for Energy on Kenya’s energy transition journey. Technologies such as grid-forming energy storage and smart grid solutions can help Kenya integrate more renewable energy while keeping the grid stable and reliable,” said Sun.
He said the forum provided an opportunity for government, industry and technology experts to explore ways of building a stronger, smarter and more sustainable energy ecosystem.
Huawei Digital Power Sub-Saharan Africa Solution Director Kyle Zhang said Kenya’s growing renewable-energy capacity presented an opportunity to accelerate the country’s energy transition, but required stronger grid-management capabilities.
Zhang identified grid stability, technology costs, safety and operational efficiency as key considerations as battery energy storage and renewable-energy projects expand.
“Grid-forming technology is not only one typical issue. This is a necessary technology we need inside Kenya’s market, from generation and transmission to the consumer side,” he said.
He said grid-forming battery systems could provide services including frequency regulation, system inertia and peak-energy management, enabling the grid to accommodate higher levels of renewable generation.
Zhang also advocated for digital and hardware simulation before large-scale deployment of new technologies to ensure energy-storage systems operate safely and effectively within the national grid.
He said artificial intelligence could support monitoring, forecasting and maintenance of large renewable-energy and battery-storage installations.
The half-day forum featured sessions on Kenya’s energy-development trends and challenges, grid-forming energy storage, smart-grid technology and wireless network solutions, as well as a Green Smart Energy Initiative ceremony.
It brought together key energy-sector institutions, including the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Kenya Power, Kenya Electricity Transmission Company and KenGen.
The forum’s discussions are expected to inform partnerships, investments and practical interventions aimed at improving the stability, resilience and efficiency of Kenya’s electricity system as the country advances its renewable-energy transition.
