Electricity Consumption Rises as Household and E-Mobility Demand Surges

Electricity consumption in Kenya saw a rise in 2026, driven by higher demand from households and the emergence of electric mobility. According to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), domestic electricity consumption grew by 18.87 per cent, from 3,640.32 GWh in 2025 to 4,327.07 GWh in 2026. The increase in domestic consumption was attributed to higher per capita usage and a larger number of domestic customers.

Large commercial and industrial consumers remained the largest electricity users, consuming 5,920.06 GWh, but their share of total consumption fell from 49.61 per cent to 47.57 per cent. Small commercial consumers also saw an increase in usage, up 5.17 per cent. Electric mobility experienced the fastest growth, with consumption increasing by 143.01 per cent, from 5.04 GWh to 12.25 GWh.

The rapid expansion of electric mobility was driven by the adoption of e-mobility tariffs, with customer numbers rising from 115 to 543. The surge in electricity consumption corresponded with increased generation, totaling 15,692.81 GWh, enough to meet the rising demand. Peak demand peaked at 2,514.28 megawatts on June 29, 2026, an 8.55 per cent rise from the previous year, indicating growing pressure on Kenya's electricity system.