KETRACO’s Expanding Grid Powers Agriculture, Industry and Regional Trade
Kenya’s push to strengthen food security, industrial growth, and regional trade is receiving a significant boost from massive investments in electricity transmission, according to the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO).
Image: KETRACO Managing Director Dr. Eng. John Mativo (center) and General Manager, System Operation and Power Management Eng. Kipkemoi Kibias (Far left) during a delegation visit to the 400/220kV Mariakani Substation. (Photo courtesy: KETRACO)
At the ongoing Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Mombasa International Show, the state-owned utility showcased its growing network of high-voltage transmission lines, describing reliable electricity as a critical enabler of climate-smart agriculture and economic transformation.
KETRACO General Manager for System Operation and Power Management, Eng. Kipkemoi Kibias, who is also serving as Acting Managing Director, said the company has completed 43 transmission line projects across the country as of May this year, with 29 more scheduled for commissioning between 2025 and 2028.
To date, the firm has built 6,015 kilometers of transmission lines, 46 substations and 33 bay extensions, providing a combined transformation capacity of 6,487 megavolt amperes (MVA). This infrastructure, Kibias said, is supplying the stable and efficient electricity needed to power irrigation schemes, food processing hubs and cold chain facilities, sectors that are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
“Climate-smart agriculture requires smart power,” Kibias noted. “We are not just building transmission lines, we are energizing Kenya’s transformation.”
In the Coast region, the extension of what KETRACO calls the “Green Energy Backbone” has helped deliver renewable power, 93 per cent of it from clean sources. The shift has reduced dependence on costly thermal generation while supporting coastal agribusinesses, cutting post-harvest losses, and providing energy for tourism and the blue economy.
Kibias said investments in grid upgrades, digital monitoring and smart components are aimed at ensuring that rising demand is met with reliable supply while allowing the seamless integration of new renewable sources.
“Kenya is not on the brink of a crisis; we are on the edge of a breakthrough. KETRACO is expanding capacity, building resilience and preparing the grid for a high-growth future,” he told showgoers.
Beyond Kenya’s borders, KETRACO is spearheading regional interconnector projects designed to strengthen the East African Power Pool. Among them are the 500kV Eastern Electricity Highway linking Kenya and Ethiopia, the 400kV Kenya–Tanzania line, and the 400kV Lessos–Tororo line with Uganda.
These cross-border links will allow Kenya to both import and export electricity, smoothing out supply fluctuations while lowering costs. Kibias described the interconnections as more than just technical projects, framing them as engines of regional integration.
“Our regional links don’t just move power, they move economies. Power trade is the new frontier of African integration, and KETRACO is at the center of this transformation,” he said.
KETRACO was established in 2008 as part of reforms aimed at creating a robust and reliable transmission backbone for Kenya. Its mandate includes evacuating power from new generation plants, connecting underserved regions to the national grid, and reducing system losses that raise the cost of electricity.
The company has increasingly positioned itself as a facilitator of Kenya’s long-term growth strategy, with electricity infrastructure viewed as a foundation for agro-industrial zones, logistics, and digital services.
As the country looks to manage the twin challenges of climate change and rising demand for energy, KETRACO’s role in modernizing the grid appears central not just to keeping the lights on, but to driving the next phase of economic development.
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