The Power Up campaign is calling for Kenyan leaders to boost resilience and growth by widening access to clean, affordable energy. Kenyan enterprises, NGOs, and civil society organisations have come together to argue that action is essential to protect Kenya from growing climate dangers, and lay the foundations for sustainable development.
A campaign launch event in Nairobi on July 5 will introduce policy recommendations for government, focused on boosting resilience and growth in rural areas – particularly through clean energy technologies such as solar water pumping, crop processing and cold storage. Members of the campaign coalition are urging action ahead of the Africa Climate Action Summit and Africa Climate Week – pivotal events taking place in Nairobi this September.
A time for action
The number of Kenyans with reliable access to energy has soared in the last decade, from 40% of the population in 2013 to about 75% today. But millions – including those at greatest risk from the effects of climate change – still lack access to electricity, as well as safe cooking fuels and technologies. Using proven solutions to connect people with clean, affordable off-grid power is needed to raise living standards and prepare communities for the damaging effects of the climate crisis.
In a country where agriculture creates 30% of GDP and 56% of employment, extreme weather and other climate impacts threaten Kenya’s ambition to transform into an industrialising, middle-income country, as set out in its Vision 2030 agenda.
While danger lies ahead, so does opportunity. While increased global funding and is essential and (and a realisation of climate justice), supportive national policies are also needed ‘de-risk’ private sector investment. This investment will be essential to meeting national goals of a 100% renewable energy mix by 2030, and the arrival of 300 billion USD of green investments by 2040. Hitting these goals means improved incomes, health and resilience for all Kenyans, particularly those marginalised by poverty, gender or rural isolation.
The foundations for success are already in place: Kenyan enterprises, CBOs and civil society organisations are driving change and innovation in every corner of the country. Supportive policies will help them access the finance, legal frameworks and skilled workforce needed to go further.
