Kenya rallies global investors to its geothermal sector at world congress
EPRA Acting Director General Dr Joseph Oketch
EPRA uses Calgary platform to showcase regulatory reforms and position Kenya as the continent’s leading geothermal destination
By MKT Reporter
Kenya has issued a direct call to global investors to channel capital into its geothermal energy sector, using one of the world’s most prominent clean energy gatherings to showcase the country’s regulatory reforms and abundant underground resources.
The appeal was made by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) at the World Geothermal Congress, currently underway in Calgary, Canada, where Kenya’s delegation used the international platform to present a sector it describes as organised, well-resourced, and increasingly investor-ready.
Speaking at the congress, EPRA Acting Director General Dr Joseph Oketch painted a picture of a country that has moved well beyond promise and into purposeful planning. Kenya, he said, sits atop some of the world’s richest geothermal reserves, and its electricity sector is guided by technically and economically sound frameworks designed to give investors clarity and confidence.
Central to that framework is the Least Cost Power Development Plan, which identifies geothermal energy as a key source of reliable baseload power and notes its comparatively low electricity production costs. Alongside it, the National Energy Policy and the Integrated National Energy Plan provide the overarching architecture within which all energy development in Kenya is coordinated.
Dr Oketch told delegates that EPRA is currently overseeing the implementation of the Integrated National Energy Plan Regulations 2025, which align county-level energy planning with national goals — a step he described as critical to ensuring coherence across government and efficiency across the sector.
The centrepiece of EPRA’s pitch to investors, however, was the Draft Geothermal Resources Regulations 2026, a framework currently being finalised that is designed to streamline permitting and licensing in the geothermal space while enforcing rigorous environmental, health, and safety compliance.
“Once enacted, the Geothermal Resources Regulations 2026 will be pivotal in promoting responsible geothermal development in Kenya,” Dr Oketch said. “By establishing clear protocols for permitting and licensing, we are not only attracting investment into the sector but also ensuring that environmental and safety standards are met comprehensively. This creates a win-win for both the industry and the communities where these resources are developed.”
The remarks signal a deliberate shift in Kenya’s regulatory posture — from managing existing geothermal operations to actively constructing the conditions under which new investment can enter and scale. EPRA, Dr Oketch stressed, is not content to regulate from behind; it intends to shape the global conversation on what responsible geothermal governance looks like.
“As we advance our regulatory frameworks, we are committed to engaging with both local and international partners to shape an inclusive regulatory environment that supports innovation and sustainable practices in geothermal energy,” he said. “We are keen to position Kenya as a leader in geothermal development on the global stage.”
Kenya already commands significant credibility in geothermal circles. The country is among the top geothermal energy producers in the world, with the Olkaria complex in Nakuru County serving as the backbone of its geothermal output and one of the largest geothermal installations on the African continent. That foundation gives EPRA’s investor pitch in Calgary genuine weight.
What the authority is now selling is not potential alone, but predictability — the assurance that the rules governing exploration, exploitation, and community engagement will be clear, consistent, and enforced. For investors weighing geothermal projects across competing jurisdictions, that assurance is often the difference between commitment and hesitation.
EPRA’s presence at the World Geothermal Congress reflects a broader strategic intent: to embed Kenya in the global network of geothermal regulators, developers, and financiers, and to ensure that when capital looks for its next clean energy destination, it finds Kenya not merely on the map, but at the top of the list.
In a world racing to decarbonise, Kenya is not waiting to be discovered — it is making the case, loudly and in the right rooms.
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