KenGen Reaffirms Commitment to Youth Empowerment Through 9th Annual Mentorship Programme.

KenGen Reaffirms Commitment to Youth Empowerment Through 9th Annual Mentorship Programme.

Acting Commerce Secretary Daniel Nzioka addresses media during the 9th Annual KenGen Foundation Mentorship Programme at Pangani Girls High School, reaffirming KenGen’s commitment to empowering scholarship beneficiaries through innovation and career-readiness training.

By Jeff Oyugi 

Nairobi - April 23, 2026

Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has reaffirmed its commitment to investing in the country’s future workforce through its 9th Annual KenGen Foundation Mentorship Programme, bringing together close to 200 secondary school and university students from across the country for a four-day leadership and innovation training initiative aimed at preparing young people for a rapidly changing world of work.

Speaking on behalf of KenGen Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Eng. Peter Njenga during the programme held on Thursday in April 2026, Acting Commerce Secretary Daniel Nzioka said the mentorship initiative reflects the company’s long-term strategy of empowering youth through education, leadership development and career readiness.

Nzioka said the students participating in the programme were beneficiaries of the KenGen Foundation scholarship initiative drawn from communities hosting the company’s operations across the country, underscoring the firm’s inclusive and community-centred social investment approach.

“For the past four days, participants have undergone a structured mentorship experience under the theme "Ubunifu bila upeo", Innovation without limits, designed to prepare them for a fast-changing and competitive world of work,” he said.

He noted that KenGen views investment in young people as one of the most impactful ways of securing Kenya’s long-term development.

“When we equip youth with skills, confidence and opportunity, we are investing directly in the nation’s future,” Nzioka added.

The mentorship programme, now in its ninth year, focuses not only on academic achievement but also on holistic development, equipping students with leadership skills, resilience, career guidance and exposure to professional insights through interactions with KenGen professionals and external facilitators.

According to KenGen, this year’s mentorship programme placed particular emphasis on strengthening engagement with beneficiaries from host communities as part of the company’s commitment to creating shared value through education-based empowerment initiatives.

Nzioka said the impact of the KenGen Foundation scholarship and mentorship model is already visible through strong academic and leadership outcomes among beneficiaries.

“Over 90 per cent of sponsored students successfully transition from high school to university. Beyond academics, they are actively participating in leadership roles, volunteer programmes and entrepreneurship initiatives,” he said.

He added that many beneficiaries have also excelled in co-curricular activities such as debate competitions and other national-level platforms, reflecting the programme’s focus on nurturing well-rounded and socially responsible future leaders.

KenGen, the largest electricity generator in East Africa, produces more than 60 per cent of Kenya’s electricity supply and plays a leading role in geothermal energy production, placing the country seventh globally and first in Africa in installed geothermal capacity.

Nzioka said the company’s investment in education and mentorship complements its core mandate of powering the nation by ensuring communities benefit directly from its presence through sustainable development initiatives.

“Beyond powering the nation, we are deeply committed to empowering people. That is why programmes like this mentorship initiative remain central to our mission,” he said.

He added that the theme of this year’s programme was particularly timely as industries continue to evolve rapidly, requiring young people to develop innovative thinking and adaptability.

“The future will not be built by those who wait. It will be built by those who innovate. And that is exactly what we are nurturing here,” he said.

Students participating in the mentorship programme were drawn from KenGen’s corporate social responsibility regions, including communities near hydroelectric stations, geothermal operations and other company installations, as well as children of KenGen staff and scholarship beneficiaries studying in both secondary schools and universities.

Sebastian Kituku, a beneficiary from Machakos County, said the programme had transformed the lives of many students who would otherwise have struggled to pursue education due to financial constraints.

He said the scholarship programme supports learners from Form One through university level, with selection based on academic merit and need within communities hosting KenGen projects.

“These students are very happy because initially we had no potential to pursue our studies. The programme covered students from secondary school to university level,” he said.

Kituku added that university beneficiaries receive full scholarships and annual stipends to support their upkeep, while those who achieve first-class honours degrees in relevant fields such as engineering may be considered for employment opportunities under the company’s corporate social responsibility policy.

He said beneficiaries also participate in annual mentorship engagements with professionals from Kenya and abroad, providing exposure to career guidance, goal setting and leadership development.

“Our expectation after this programme is how we are going to achieve innovation beyond limits and how we are going to help solve the problems we are experiencing as a society,” he said.

Patrick Njoroge, a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy student at the Technical University of Kenya and another beneficiary of the KenGen Foundation scholarship programme, said the initiative had helped overcome financial barriers that previously threatened to derail many students’ education.

“One thing I would like to thank the KenGen Foundation for is that they made sure poverty does not limit excellence in education,” he said.

Patrick noted that scholarship beneficiaries are required to meet academic performance targets in order to continue receiving sponsorship, a condition he said encourages discipline and commitment among students.

Nzioka urged beneficiaries to remain focused on integrity, creativity and resilience as they prepare to transition into future careers and leadership roles.

“This is not the end. It is the beginning. The world ahead will demand more than academic excellence. It will require courage to take risks, integrity to do what is right, creativity to solve problems and resilience to keep going,” he said.

He added that KenGen Foundation will continue expanding access to education, mentorship and opportunities for young people as part of the company’s broader commitment to building sustainable communities and supporting national development through targeted social investment programmes.

The company also called on partners in the private sector and development space to collaborate in expanding mentorship and scholarship opportunities for more Kenyan youth, noting that collective investment in education remains critical to shaping the country’s future workforce.