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Kenya has set a new benchmark for electricity imports, underscoring the country’s mounting reliance on its regional neighbours to meet growing energy needs. In August 2025, the nation imported 150.45 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power — the highest amount ever recorded — as domestic generation slowed and demand reached unprecedented levels.
The increase was driven largely by a spike in electricity purchases from Uganda, which nearly doubled within a month. Imports rose from 18.95 million kWh in July to 32.5 million kWh in August. This surge was made possible by the completion of a new cross-border transmission line that connects the two countries, ensuring a steadier and more efficient flow of power to western Kenya.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s imports from Ethiopia — currently its biggest supplier — fell slightly from 122.08 million kWh to 117.77 million kWh. The power exchange is part of a long-term, 25-year deal that allows Kenya to import up to 200 megawatts of electricity in the first three years, a limit that is set to double by the end of 2026.
While cross-border electricity trade has become vital to stabilizing Kenya’s grid, the record imports highlight the challenges facing the country’s domestic generation sector. Local output dipped by about one percent in August, totaling 1.146 billion kWh. The decline was largely due to reduced production from hydropower and wind sources — two of Kenya’s key renewable energy pillars.
Hydropower generation fell to 296.01 million kWh from 320.73 million kWh in July, while wind energy output dropped from 165.51 million kWh to 154.99 million kWh. These reductions came amid fluctuating weather conditions that have impacted renewable generation.
Despite these setbacks, geothermal power remains Kenya’s strongest and most stable energy source, contributing about 39.7 percent of the country’s total supply between January and August 2025. Hydropower followed at 23.7 percent, wind at 12.7 percent, and imports at 10.9 percent — the highest share imports have ever represented in Kenya’s energy mix.
Electricity demand has continued to surge, peaking at 2,363.41 megawatts in August. This rising consumption, combined with a freeze on new power purchase agreements (PPAs), has constrained local capacity growth and pushed Kenya to rely more on imported energy to bridge the gap.
Kenya Power Managing Director Joseph Siror expressed concern about this growing dependency, noting that the imported power comes mainly from hydropower plants in neighbouring countries. “The worry is not about the willingness of our neighbours to supply, but about the sustainability of hydropower during droughts, which could affect their ability to meet export commitments,” he cautioned.
Energy experts have echoed these concerns, warning that Kenya’s vulnerability to external supply disruptions could increase if regional rainfall patterns weaken. While regional power integration has brought short-term relief, it also highlights the urgent need for diversification and investment in domestic renewable capacity.
The record imports in August are a reminder of both Kenya’s rapid economic growth and the fragility of its current energy system. As demand continues to rise, the country faces a crucial choice: expand its local generation or deepen its dependence on the hydrological stability of its neighbours.
