Kenya’s electricity consumption has hit an all-time high, fuelled by a spike in new customer connections and soaring demand during the cold season.
Kenya Power has reported a historic peak demand of 2,362.28 megawatts (MW) on July 23, 2025, the highest ever recorded in the country’s energy history.
Just three weeks earlier, the national control centre had registered 2,325 MW on July 2, itself a new record at the time.
That figure had already overtaken the 2,316 MW peak set in February this year.
According to the utility firm, more Kenyans are turning to grid electricity to heat homes and offices as chilly weather grips the country.
“The new peak demand is a testament to our commitment to drive national electricity access through the deployment of various electrification projects,” said Joseph Siror, Kenya Power’s Managing Director and CEO.
In just five months, power demand has risen by 46 MW, with Kenya Power projecting even higher figures in the months ahead.
During the financial year ending June 30, the company connected over 400,000 new customers to the grid. But it’s not just households.
Kenya Power is actively targeting commercial and industrial users, who account for a significant share of power usage.
“We are at various stages of implementation of the last-mile connectivity projects that have been commissioned across the country,” said Siror.
“We expect that the onboarding of these customers will push electricity demand further.”
The company is also betting big on the rise of electric mobility and modern cooking solutions to power future demand.
This year, it plans to install 45 EV charging stations across six counties to support the growing shift to electric vehicles.
At the same time, it has launched e-cooking hubs in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kisumu, showcasing energy-efficient electric appliances and educating the public on safer, cleaner cooking.
Kenya Power has also partnered with schools and hotels to scale up the use of electric cooking, in a bid to modernise kitchens and increase grid consumption.
