KenGen Hunts Global Investors to Turn Africa’s Green Energy Wealth into Jobs and Industrial Growth

KenGen Hunts Global Investors to Turn Africa’s Green Energy Wealth into Jobs and Industrial Growth

KenGen Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Eng. Kibet Ronoh, OGW (left), shakes hands with Stanbic Bank Kenya Executive Vice President and Head of Energy Infrastructure Julius Longei during the media launch of the third KenGen Sustainable Energy Conference (SEC 2026) in Nairobi. The conference, scheduled for November 24 to 27 in Olkaria, Naivasha, will bring together global investors, financiers and energy sector stakeholders to mobilise investment and accelerate Africa’s green industrial revolution.

By Jeff Oyugi

Nairobi - October 15, 2026

Kenya is stepping up efforts to attract international investment into renewable energy, with a major conference scheduled for November expected to bring together investors, financiers, power producers and policymakers to explore ways of turning Africa’s vast clean energy resources into bankable projects and industrial growth.

The third KenGen Sustainable Energy Conference (SEC 2026), scheduled for November 24 to 27 in Olkaria, Naivasha, will seek to bridge the gap between Africa’s renewable energy potential and the financing, infrastructure and partnerships required to deliver commercially viable energy projects.

The conference, convened by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), is expected to attract more than 1,500 participants from over 80 countries, including at least 200 investors, 40 financing institutions, 100 utilities and power producers, and 100 exhibitors.

Under the theme, “Powering Africa’s Green Industrial Revolution,” the gathering will focus on mobilising capital, strengthening strategic partnerships and expanding the commercial use of renewable energy to support industrialisation, enterprise development and economic growth.

KenGen Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Eng. Kibet Ronoh said the conference was designed to move discussions on green energy investment beyond identifying opportunities to implementing projects capable of delivering measurable economic benefits.

“SEC 2026 is designed to move the green energy investment conversation from opportunity to execution,” Ronoh said during the conference's media launch in Nairobi.

He said the company had invited investors, financiers, utilities, project developers and corporates to participate in discussions aimed at unlocking opportunities to accelerate Africa’s clean energy agenda.

The conference comes at a time when African economies are seeking to expand electricity access, improve energy reliability and attract industries that require stable and competitively priced power. However, converting renewable energy resources into operational projects continues to depend on access to affordable financing, supportive policies and effective collaboration among public and private sector players.

For manufacturers and other businesses, the availability and cost of electricity are central considerations when deciding where to establish operations, expand production or invest in new technologies.

Reliable power can reduce operational disruptions, improve productivity and strengthen competitiveness, while renewable electricity offers businesses an opportunity to lower their carbon footprint as global markets increasingly place emphasis on environmental sustainability.

KenGen said the conference would bring together stakeholders responsible for developing, financing, regulating and purchasing electricity to address the challenges that often prevent promising energy projects from reaching implementation.

Discussions are expected to cover investment mobilisation, project development, strategic partnerships and carbon trading, with government officials, regulators, development finance institutions and industrial consumers expected to participate.

A major focus will be connecting project developers with investors and lenders to improve understanding of financing requirements, investment risks and the conditions necessary to make renewable energy projects commercially attractive.

Stanbic Bank Kenya has expressed support for the conference, citing Kenya’s established position in renewable energy and the need to sustain investment in the sector.

Julius Longei, the bank's executive vice president and head of energy infrastructure, said Kenya had distinguished itself internationally through its substantial share of electricity generated from green energy sources.

He said the bank wanted to be part of the country's renewable energy growth story by supporting existing initiatives and exploring further opportunities for collaboration.

“Kenya is a leader in the world. And one of the areas where it has been noted to be leading is having a very high concentration of green energy,” Longei said.

He added that the bank had supported the green energy sector in the past and was looking forward to strengthening its partnership as the industry entered its next phase of development.

Longei said the bank remained committed to working with stakeholders beyond the conference, signalling the importance of sustained financial sector involvement in advancing renewable energy investment.

Another representative, Brian, whose full name and official designation were not provided in the remarks, also underscored the importance of partnerships in expanding the sector and supporting Kenya's broader economic ambitions.

He described Kenya as a leading player in green energy, adding that collaboration would be critical to building a sustainable economic future for the country and coming generations.

He said the partnership was intended to support the next phase of green energy development while creating a foundation for long-term economic growth.

The involvement of financial institutions is particularly significant because renewable energy projects often require substantial upfront capital and long development periods before generating returns. Investors must also assess regulatory certainty, project viability, infrastructure requirements and the ability of power producers to secure reliable markets for their electricity.

Although Kenya has made considerable progress in renewable electricity generation, sustaining that momentum requires continued investment in generation capacity, transmission infrastructure, energy storage and systems that can deliver electricity reliably to consumers.

The conference will be held in Olkaria, the centre of Kenya's geothermal energy operations, giving delegates an opportunity to examine an established renewable energy development while exploring prospects for further investment.

KenGen also plans to showcase its Green Energy Park, an initiative intended to attract industries and enterprises seeking access to renewable electricity.

The park is expected to feature prominently in discussions on how clean energy can support value addition, industrial production, employment creation and the development of businesses that depend on dependable power supplies.

Ronoh said delegates would have an opportunity to see how investment in Olkaria had contributed to economic development and learn about emerging opportunities for industries seeking reliable renewable energy solutions.

“Our guests will experience firsthand how strategic investments have driven growth in Olkaria,” he said.

He added that the Green Energy Park was creating opportunities for enterprises seeking to align their operations with renewable energy.

The initiative reflects a broader shift in the energy debate, from increasing electricity generation alone to ensuring that power resources support productive economic activities.

For Kenya, attracting energy-intensive industries could help strengthen the link between renewable energy investment, manufacturing, job creation and regional competitiveness.

However, the success of such ambitions will depend on whether the conference produces concrete investment commitments, viable projects and partnerships that extend beyond discussions and networking.

Participants will therefore be looking to identify projects capable of attracting financing, establish collaborations between developers and capital providers, and explore mechanisms for scaling renewable energy investments across African markets.

Carbon trading is also expected to feature on the agenda, offering an opportunity to examine how carbon markets could contribute to climate-related financing, while raising questions about credible measurement, verification and the distribution of benefits from emissions-reduction projects.

KenGen said the conference would provide a platform for investment discussions and partnerships across Africa's sustainable energy sector, with the ultimate objective of translating renewable energy resources into operational projects and productive economic activity.

With financial institutions, utilities, developers and industrial consumers expected to converge in Olkaria, the meeting will test how effectively Kenya can leverage its renewable energy credentials to attract capital and support Africa's wider industrial transformation.

The central challenge will be ensuring that the opportunities identified translate into financing agreements, new investments and projects that deliver reliable power, economic value and employment.

For Kenya and other African economies pursuing greener growth, the conference offers an opportunity to demonstrate that renewable energy can be more than a climate solution: it can also be a foundation for industrial development and long-term prosperity.