Population Access to Electricity in Kenya by County

Electricity access is a household's connectivity to sufficient electricity capable of providing a minimum amount of energy to power a basic bundle of services such as phone charging, lighting several bulbs, radio, TV, and fan.^[1]

According to the World Energy Outlook, a household with sufficient energy access should be able to power four lightbulbs for five hours a day, a fan for six hours, a refrigerator, a phone, and a television for four hours.

A household with basic access to electricity should consume 1250 kWh annually using standard appliances and 420 kWh using energy-efficient appliances. As a result, pico-solar lighting does not constitute basic access to electricity.^[2]

Electricity access in Kenya has increased tremendously

The number of people and households accessing electricity in Kenya has increased significantly in the last two decades. According to the World Bank's World Development Indicators, only 15.2% of the Kenyan population had access to electricity in 2000. By 2021, the share of the population accessing electricity had increased to 76.5%.

In urban areas, electricity access increased from 49.9% in 2000 to a near-universal access of 97.5% in 2021. Rural areas saw a tremendous increase in the last decade, with access increasing from 7.2% in 2010 to 68.2% in 2021. Only 1.1% of the rural regions had access to electricity in 1997.

The IEA’s World Energy Outlook also estimated that more than 99% of the urban population in Kenya had access to electricity in 2022 compared to 65% in rural areas. Overall, 14 million Kenyans did not have access to electricity in 2022.^[3]

Kenyans have higher access to electricity than their neighbors, but more needs to be done.

Kenya's electricity access is the highest in East Africa. However, compared to Southern, Western, and Northern Africa, Kenya has yet to catch up with its peers. For instance, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia all have universal access to electricity.

In West Africa, Ghana and Ivory Coast have electricity access of 89% and 80%, respectively. South Africa has an electricity access of 95%.^[4]

Household access to electricity in Kenya has increased, but penetration has been unequal.

The Kenya Population and Housing Census provides important information on household-level data, including access to electricity, internet penetration, and sanitation services. In 2009, the population census recorded a household electricity access of 14.3%.^[5]

Nairobi had the highest electricity access, 72.4%, followed by Kiambu, 54.1%. Turkana had the lowest access to electricity in 2009, at 2.4%, followed by Mandera and West Pokot, 2.5% and 2.6%, respectively.

The map below shows household electricity access in 2009.

Household access to electricity increased to 38.7% in the 2019 census, with electricity penetration rising in all counties. In Nairobi, electricity access increased from 72.4% in 2009 to 96.7% in 2019. In Kiambu, access increased from 54.1% to 91.9%. 

Counties that had lower access in 2009 saw significant improvements. For instance, household access to electricity in Mandera increased from 2.5% in 2009 to 15.8% in 2019. In Marsabit, access rose from 7.5% to 21.2%. 

In Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu, and Wajir, household access to electricity remained below 15% in that decade and had the lowest access levels in the country in 2019. Samburu and Wajir had household access to electricity at 14.6% in 2019, while West Pokot had an access level of 11.9%. Turkana still had the lowest level of access, at 8.8%.

The map below shows household access to electricity in 2019. 

Nyeri, Muranga, and Kirinyaga had the greatest change in electricity access between 2009 and 2019.

Even though all counties in Kenya saw increased penetration of electricity and higher household access, Nyeri, Murang'a, and Kirinyaga had the highest share of new households getting access to electricity.

In Kirinyaga, households' access to electricity increased by 49.6% from 16.4% in 2009 to 66% in 2019. Muranga's excess increased by 46.6% from 13.9% to 60.5%. The share of households accessing electricity in Nyeri, on the other hand, increased by 45.7% from 26.31% in 2009 to 72% in 2019.

The map below shows the percentage difference in household access to electricity between 2019 and 2009.

In Turkana County, household access to electricity increased by 6.4% only, Samburu by 8.4%, West Pokot by 9.3%, Wajir by 11.2%, Garissa by 12.4%, Kitui by 12.4%, Marsabit by 13.7%, and Makueni by 14.5%.

See Also

1. Household Access to Electricity in Kenya by Constituency 
2. Rural Access Index in Kenya by county
3. Household access to sanitation services in Kenya
4. Wealth and Economic Wellbeing in Kenya by County 

References