The boss of KenGen on cleaning up Africa’s power
By Christine Wambata
Peter Njenga, Managing Director and CEO of KenGen, is steering one of Africa’s leading power producers at a pivotal moment for the continent’s energy future. Under his leadership, KenGen is scaling capacity while committing to a green energy transition.
A green-power steward rooted in purpose
Njenga assumed the helm of KenGen in August 2023. A devout Christian, he frames his mission in a moral as well as a business context. In a recent interview he said, “There are positives that come with affordable and available clean power. That is what will take our country to the next level.”
The ambition underpins KenGen’s strategic vision. According to its 2024–2034 plan, the company aims to add 1,500 MW of green energy to the Kenyan grid with an estimated US$4.3 billion investment. Njenga has committed the company to making its energy portfolio cleaner, more reliable, and more affordable, positioning KenGen at the centre of Kenya’s low-carbon development.
A generation portfolio built around renewables
KenGen’s current installed capacity is 1,726 MW, according to its 2024 annual report, with more than 93 percent sourced from green energy: 754 MW geothermal, 826 MW hydro, and 26 MW wind. Many African utilities still rely heavily on fossil fuels. KenGen’s green-heavy mix gives it both economic and climate resilience.
Njenga has overseen KenGen’s response to surging demand. In August 2025, Kenya hit a record peak electricity demand of 2,363.41 MW, and KenGen helped stabilise the grid by scaling up production from its hydropower and geothermal plants. According to Njenga, “Our agility in scaling up renewable energy generation reflects both operational excellence and our central role in supporting the country’s growing power needs sustainably.”
Regional influence and expansion
Njenga is expanding KenGen’s influence regionally. The company holds geothermal exploration rights in Zambia and Tanzania, while drilling is underway in Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eswatini.
The company is also rehabilitating aging infrastructure. The Olkaria 1 geothermal plant, producing 45 MW, is being refurbished to increase capacity to 63 MW by 2026. Beyond generation, KenGen plans a green energy park in Olkaria where industrial users will draw 100 percent of power from renewable sources.
Njenga has said that by supporting geothermal development in other countries, KenGen helps deepen Africa’s clean energy infrastructure while building new business lines.
Global recognition and transformational influence
In March 2025, Njenga was appointed Co-Chair of the B20 Task Force on Energy Mix and Just Transition under South Africa’s G20 Presidency. He described the role as “a key moment for both Kenya and Africa, an opportunity to shape energy policies on a global scale,” adding that he is “truly humbled to ensure that Africa’s unique challenges and opportunities are at the heart of global energy policy discussions.”
This appointment reflects Njenga’s leadership beyond national boundaries. He is increasingly seen as a voice of African energy transformation in international forums.
Challenges and leadership trade-offs
Njenga’s vision carries risks. The 1,500 MW expansion requires raising billions in capital and managing long lead times for geothermal drilling. Accelerating expansion while maintaining financial discipline in a capital-intensive sector is a core tension of his tenure.
Infrastructure constraints also pose a challenge. As demand surges, transmission bottlenecks risk grid instability. Njenga’s strategy recognises this by pairing capacity expansion with storage ambitions. KenGen plans 500 MWh of storage as part of its 10-year plan.
Portrait of a transition leader
Njenga embodies “leadership in transition.” He is guiding a national utility through a structural shift, turning KenGen into a green-energy frontier player. He balances local priorities, such as cheaper, cleaner power for Kenya, with global ambitions, including shaping just-transition policy in the G20. He pairs technical expertise with social purpose, aiming to make energy a tool for sustainable development.
Under his stewardship, KenGen is becoming more than a national utility. It is a regional engine of Africa’s energy transition, and Njenga is its deliberate, values-driven helmsman.
Comment on his role:
Peter Njenga is a catalyst for Kenya’s and Africa’s green energy transformation. He is not only scaling capacity but actively reshaping how energy is produced, distributed, and governed. His focus on renewables, regional expansion, and global policy engagement positions him as one of the most consequential energy CEOs on the continent.
