NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has revealed that the government has been forced to introduce daily load-shedding — cutting off electricity in some parts of the country between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. — to stabilize Kenya’s strained national grid.
Speaking to Kenyans living in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday night, the President said the country’s electricity generation capacity can no longer keep up with surging demand, particularly during evening peak hours.
“Today in Kenya, between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., we have to do load-shedding. We have to shut off some areas to power other areas because our energy is insufficient,” said Ruto.
“One data center requires 1,000 megawatts, but we only have 2,300 megawatts.”
According to Ruto, Kenya needs over Ksh.1 trillion to increase its power generation capacity to at least 5,000 megawatts, a move he says is critical for sustaining industrialization and manufacturing growth.
“If we have to industrialize and engage in manufacturing, we need a minimum of 10,000 megawatts of energy. We need to build at least 50 mega dams — like the High Grand Falls and Soin Koru Dams,” he added.
The President hinted that the government plans to fund the expansion through strategic partnerships and smart financing rather than new taxes.
“We need Ksh.1.2 trillion — about $10 to $12 billion — and we can raise that money without any levy. Tutatumia akili tu (we’ll just use our brains),” Ruto quipped, citing the success of the Affordable Housing Fund, which has already raised Ksh.600 billion.
State utility Kenya Power later confirmed that the grid has been overwhelmed in recent weeks, especially after sunset when solar generation dips and wind power output fluctuates.
The company, which serves about 10 million customers, acknowledged that scheduled rationing is being implemented to prevent system instability.
Meanwhile, KenGen reported record-breaking consumption levels last week, noting Kenya’s peak demand hit 2,411.98 MW and daily usage reached 44,122.60 MWh on October 24, 2025 — the highest in the country’s history.
“Kenya’s appetite for electricity has reached a new high,” KenGen said in a statement. “No load-shedding was reported across the national grid during the record-breaking demand period.”
Still, the figures point to one undeniable truth: Kenya’s fast-growing economy and data-driven industries are putting unprecedented pressure on an aging energy infrastructure.
Experts say Kenya’s energy transition — once hailed as one of Africa’s greenest — is now at a crossroads. With peak-hour rationing back in the spotlight and new investments urgently needed, the government faces the challenge of balancing industrial growth with affordable, reliable power for all.
