Kenyan manufacturers are moving fast to cut waste and sharpen efficiency as tighter rules take hold. Officials say the changes could free up power across the grid.
Steve Umidha, OPA News Agency
Kenya’s largest manufacturers are stepping up efforts to cut energy use as rising power costs and new regulatory pressure push industry towards more efficient production systems.
At a meeting convened by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), officials said more large businesses — many of them the country’s biggest electricity consumers — are now building energy‑saving measures into their self‑generation and sustainability plans. The discussions focused on how industry can raise output while keeping energy costs down.
EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo urged manufacturers to fully adopt the Energy (Energy Management) Regulations, 2025, which were gazetted in February last year. He said the rules are designed to help major consumers manage their power use more efficiently and deliver quick gains.
He called the regulations “a low‑hanging fruit.”
“This (Energy Management Regulations 2025) is low‑hanging fruit. Through the adoption of existing energy‑efficiency frameworks, these companies can maintain or even increase their production levels while consuming less energy per unit of production and reducing their energy cost,” Kiptoo said.
Industry data points to a shift. The Energy and Petroleum Statistics report for June to December 2025 shows industrial users consumed 2,924.48GWh, up 4.18 per cent from 2,807.10GWh in the same period a year earlier. The sector accounted for 49.25 per cent of national electricity use.
This share is 1.93 per cent lower than the preceding year — the first time industrial consumption has fallen below the 50 per cent mark. Officials say the drop suggests major consumers are beginning to use less energy per unit of output as they adopt efficiency measures and look to manage costs.
The Energy (Energy Management) Regulations, 2025, apply to commercial, industrial and institutional facilities that consume more than 180,000 kWh of electrical and thermal energy annually. The rules replace the 2012 guidelines and set out requirements aimed at improving sustainability, reducing operational costs and lowering greenhouse‑gas emissions.
The meeting brought together chief executives and leaders from across the manufacturing sector. Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira echoed the call for stronger compliance.
“By doing so, industries will free up power, thereby creating what is referred to as virtual power plants,” he said.
He added that the resulting savings would allow more electricity to be supplied to factories, homes and commercial centres without the need for new generation capacity.
Under the regulations, facilities must carry out comprehensive energy audits every four years, implement the recommendations and achieve at least 50 per cent of projected savings. They must also appoint a licensed energy manager and set up an internal energy‑management committee.
Drafters of the rules say these measures will strengthen corporate governance, improve competitiveness and resilience, and support ESG performance.
Several companies have already reported gains. Isuzu East Africa Limited and Kenya Breweries Limited’s Kisumu plant have achieved a combined annual energy‑cost saving of more than KES 26 million (about USD 200,000), according to EPRA.
Isuzu says it saved 128,818 kWh, exceeding its projections and cutting costs by over KES 5.6 million (about USD 43,000). KBL reduced 657,584 kWh of electrical energy and 5,497 GJ of thermal energy, translating to KES 20.6 million (about USD 158,000) in annual operational savings.
EPRA has certified and licensed energy auditors and audit firms to carry out standardised assessments. It has also licensed Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) that design, finance and implement energy‑efficiency projects, often with payment tied to verified savings.
“This means that you can access robust professional support and financing models that reduce the burden of upfront investment,” Kiptoo said.
Alongside the management regulations, the authority has introduced the Energy (Appliances’ Energy Performance and Labelling) Regulations to ensure that appliances manufactured or imported into Kenya meet Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). These standards apply to refrigerators, air conditioners, lighting appliances and motors.
Similar programmes are being rolled out across African regions, including UEMOA in West Africa and other EAC member states, with Kenya often cited as a model.
The World Bank views MEPS and energy‑labelling rules as a cost‑effective tool for improving energy efficiency, reducing electricity costs for consumers and supporting environmental goals.
One Planet Agency – OPA News
