Ruto holds energy talks with Azerbaijan’s SOCAR on 10,000MW power plan

President William Ruto during talks with SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf on energy cooperation in Baku, where discussions focused on oil, gas, renewable energy, and Kenya’s 10,000MW power expansion plan. May 18, 2026/PCS

President William Ruto on Monday held talks with the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) president Rovshan Najaf.

This comes as Kenya is working to strengthen its partnership with Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company (SOCAR) to boost cooperation in oil, gas, and renewable energy.

The goal is to attract strategic investment that will expand Kenya’s electricity generation capacity.

“We are strengthening cooperation with Azerbaijan, through the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), in the energy sector, particularly in oil and gas, and renewable energy, as part of Kenya’s drive to attract strategic investment to expand energy generation,” Ruto said.

He added that Kenya is targeting major expansion in power generation through international partnerships.

“We aim to leverage SOCAR’s expertise in the exploration and production of natural gas and renewable energy to realise Kenya’s ambition of generating 10,000MW of electricity in the next decade.”

The discussions took place in Baku on the sidelines of the World Urban Forum, where the President met SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf.

The talks explored possible investment opportunities in Kenya’s energy sector, including the proposed East African oil refinery project.

According to the statement, the engagement focused on expanding cooperation in exploration, production of natural gas, and renewable energy development, with Kenya seeking to benefit from SOCAR’s technical expertise.

The proposed collaboration is part of Kenya’s broader strategy to attract foreign investment in the energy sector and strengthen long-term energy security.

Officials noted that the engagement also forms part of discussions on enhancing regional energy infrastructure and supporting industrial growth through a reliable power supply.

Further technical discussions are expected to follow, focusing on feasibility studies, financing models, and implementation frameworks for potential joint projects.

The World Urban Forum provided a platform for engagement, bringing together global leaders to discuss urban development and sustainable infrastructure solutions.