President William Ruto provided former political rival and Kanu party leader, Gideon Moi, the license to generate and supply power.
On Saturday, March 18, Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir inspected the construction of a Geothermal Power plant in Menengai constructed by Sosian Energy – a firm where Moi is the majority shareholder.
Chirchir was received by the firm’s director and Gideon Moi’s son, Kigen Moi, who took him around the facility. Kigen also explained that the plant would begin generating power in April 2023.
“We expect to be in operation by end of April 2023 (early power) and June 2023 in terms of full power. In the first phase, we are expecting 22 Megawatts because Units 1 and 2 are ready,” he stated.
A collage of Energy CS Davis Chirchir and Kigen Moi during a site visit at the Menengai Geothermal Plant in Nakuru on March 18, 2023.
Citizen TV According to, Sosian Menengai Geothermal Power Limited (SMGPL), the plant will produce 35MW net geothermal power.
The plant is constructed under a 25-year build-own-operate (BOO) basis through a public-private partnership (PPA) with Kenya Power and PISSA with GDC.
“SMGPL has been issued with a Support Letter from the Government of Kenya and Partial Risk Guarantee from the African Development Fund ADF,” the company profile reads.
Part of the project involves the design, supply, installation, testing, commissioning and management of defects during the warranty period of the 35MW plant.
The plant will feature foundations, buildings, turbines and generators, pumps, condensers, a gas removal system, a cooling tower, an electrical and control system, as well as other balance of system elements.
SMGPL signed an Engineering Procurement Contact (EPC) and Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contract with the Kaishan Group.
Apart from the plant in Menengai, Sosian Energy also intends to develop a 40MW Solar Park on a 400-acre land in Mogotio.
In addition, it also operates the Sosian Highland Geothermal Power plant and the Elmolo Wind Power Plant.
During the tour of the facility, Chirchir explained that there was need to reduce the pressure on hydro-electric power (HEP). He added that this would help lower the cost of power.
The CS explained that the country was forced to generate power using diesel to meet the demands of the country thus pushing power prices up.
On February 28, Ruto’s cabinet lifted the moratorium issued during President (Rtd.) Uhuru Kenyatta’s reign on procurement of new independent power producers (IPPs) in a bid to increase power generation
In addition, the government on March 15, the Kenya Kwanza government signed a deal with the Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) for the development of a 300 megawatts power hub.
Meanwhile, Kenya Power increased the cost of pre-paid electricity tokens. The firm also did away with the breakdown of money used when buying tokens.
A section of the Sosian Menengai Geothermal Power Plant in Menengai, Nakuru County.
Sosian Energy
