Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has announced a major renewable energy initiative with the launch of a tender for a 42.5 MW solar power project coupled with a 3 MW/4.5 MWh battery energy storage system. The project, part of Kenya’s broader push toward clean energy expansion, will be developed at the Seven Forks region, approximately 150 kilometers northeast of Nairobi.
According to the tender notice, KenGen aims to select up to seven firms to handle the design, supply, construction, and commissioning of the solar-plus-storage plant. The contract will also cover the installation of a high-voltage substation and associated transmission infrastructure.
The Seven Forks area already hosts significant hydropower infrastructure, with KenGen operating over 600 MW of capacity from five hydro plants in the region — Masinga, Kamburu, Gitaru, Kindaruma, and Kiambere — making it a strategic location for hybrid energy development.
Funding for the project has been backed by the French Development Agency, which confirmed its financial support in mid-2024.
Despite Kenya’s strong renewable potential, the country’s total installed solar capacity remained at 369 MW by the end of 2024, unchanged from the previous year, according to data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The new project is expected to boost Kenya’s capacity and energy resilience.
In a related development, local consultancy Apex launched a tender earlier this year for two additional 40 MW solar farms to be built in the southern counties of Kajiado and Makueni, signaling ongoing momentum in Kenya’s solar sector.
Interested firms have until July 29 to submit their bids for the Seven Forks solar-plus-storage contract.