Kenya, Huawei Deepen Partnership as Smart Grid Technology Takes Centre Stage in Energy Transition
By Fride Amiani
Kenya is stepping up efforts to modernise its electricity system and accelerate the transition to a smarter, more renewable-based energy sector, as the government deepens collaboration with technology firms to address emerging challenges in power generation and distribution.
The State Department for Energy, under the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, in partnership with Huawei Kenya, convened the Kenya Energy Transition Forum 2026 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Upper Hill, Nairobi, bringing together government officials, industry executives, technology experts, development partners and researchers.
The half-day forum focused on ways to strengthen the country's power system amid the increasing integration of renewable energy, with discussions centred on smart grids, energy storage, digitalisation, grid management and wireless network technologies.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry, Principal Secretary for Energy Alex Wachira said Kenya had made significant progress in developing a clean and increasingly renewable-based electricity system, supported by its abundant geothermal, hydro, wind and solar resources.
He, however, warned that the growing reliance on variable renewable sources, particularly wind and solar, requires the country to improve the flexibility, stability and resilience of its electricity grid.
“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 PS Wachira.
He identified smart grids, advanced grid management systems, improved forecasting, digitalisation, demand-side flexibility, power electronics and energy storage as critical technologies that could enable Kenya to accommodate higher levels of renewable energy while improving grid stability and resilience.
According to Wachira, these technologies could also help reduce technical and commercial losses in the electricity system, strengthening the reliability and efficiency of power supply.
The PS challenged stakeholders to move beyond discussions about available technologies and focus on practical solutions that can be implemented at scale.
He urged industry players and policymakers to pay close attention to the investments required to modernise the energy system, as well as the policy and regulatory frameworks needed to unlock the full potential of emerging technologies.
“Kenya has a unique opportunity to position itself at the forefront of Africa's energy transition,” Wachira said. “We have the renewable energy resources, a growing technology ecosystem and a strong foundation in our energy sector.”
He said the government expects discussions from the forum to translate into concrete partnerships, investments and practical solutions capable of supporting Kenya's long-term energy needs.
Huawei Kenya Deputy CEO for Public Affairs James Sun Quan said the technology company was committed to supporting Kenya's energy transition through innovative solutions aimed at improving the reliability and stability of the national grid.
“Huawei is proud to partner with the State Department for Energy on Kenya's energy transition journey,” Sun said.
He noted that technologies such as grid-forming energy storage and smart grid solutions could enable Kenya to integrate more renewable energy while maintaining a stable and reliable electricity system.
“We look forward to continuing this partnership to deliver practical solutions for the country's power sector,” he added.
The forum also featured discussions on Kenya's energy development trends and challenges, grid-forming energy storage solutions, smart grid technology and wireless network solutions.
The event further included the Green Smart Energy Initiative Ceremony and an open discussion on the next steps for Kenya's energy sector.
Among those attending were Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Chairman Moses Mabonga, KenGen Chief Executive Officer Eng. Peter Njenga, and a Huawei delegation led by Sun.
The partnership comes as Kenya seeks to strengthen its position as a regional leader in renewable energy while ensuring that the electricity grid can accommodate growing levels of clean power.
Stakeholders at the forum emphasised the need for continued investment, innovation and collaboration between government, technology companies, energy producers, regulators and development partners to build a resilient and digitally enabled power system.
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