Kenya's energy sector faces a critical imbalance: demand consistently outpaces supply, constraining economic growth and limiting access. While expanding generation capacity remains critical, one of the most powerful - and often overlooked - solutions is energy efficiency. Simply put, it means achieving the same results while using less energy, whether in homes or industries. It's a practical way to cut costs, free up energy for more users, and reduce emissions.

Yet discussions on energy access and the transition to renewables tend to focus almost exclusively on new generation projects, sidelining the potential to optimize consumption. That's a missed opportunity – and an expensive oversight. Energy efficiency can deliver results faster and at lower costs than building new capacity. In Kenya, improving efficiency is among the most effective ways to strengthen energy security, boost productivity, and advance global climate goals.

The urgency is unmistakable. As leaders gathered at COP30 in Belém to confront the gap between current action and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - the emission-reduction targets countries have committed to achieving by 2030 - the UN reiterated a clear message: ambition must increase, and quickly. Yet many nations are struggling to stay on track with even their existing pledges.

This global call for action now echoes at the continental level. Next week, the African Energy Commission (AFREC) will convene the first-ever Continental Energy Efficiency Conference in Addis Ababa (10–11 December), signalling a region-wide recognition that smarter energy use is central to Africa’s development. For Kenya, this growing continental momentum underscores an essential point: meeting its own goals will require not only cleaner energy, but more efficient systems that maximize every kilowatt.

Why Efficiency Matters for Kenya's Energy Goals

Kenya has set ambitious targets: universal energy access by 2030, 100% renewable electricity, and a 32% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to business-as-usual projections. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), efficiency measures could deliver up to 40% of the progress needed to meet global Paris Agreement targets. While Kenya's specific potential may vary, this underscores the scale of opportunity that energy efficiency offers. Unlocking it requires coordinated action.

Working on the potential for energy efficiency in Kenya is what the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has been doing with its Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Livelihoods (EELA) Kenya Country Window Program, funded by the Government of Sweden to help industries improve energy performance and drive inclusive economic growth. EELA Kenya demonstrates how this can work in practice. First, by enforcing Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for lighting and appliances. Ensuring that products like light bulbs, washing machines, and air conditioners meet efficiency standards prevents unnecessary waste, reduces household costs, and eases grid pressure.

Second, by helping industries cut energy use during production. This makes businesses more competitive, less exposed to fossil fuel price volatility, and better positioned to reinvest savings into growth and job creation. Consider, for example, the tea industry, a sector where EELA Kenya is actively cooperating with local associations. What could reducing energy consumption across the production chain mean for both profitability and sustainability?

Beyond Savings: Jobs and Innovation

Energy efficiency isn't just about reducing consumption. It's also a driver of skilled employment. New roles emerge across the value chain: energy auditors who identify inefficiencies in factories, technicians who maintain high-performance equipment, and specialists who recommend technological upgrades that pay for themselves through lower energy bills.

Other opportunities lie in end-of-life management for appliances, where local expertise in repair and responsible disposal is critical, especially in rural areas where replacements are costly and difficult to access. The rise of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) adds another layer of innovation, creating businesses dedicated to delivering efficiency solutions at scale.

Driving Change Through Collaboration and Awareness

Launched this year, EELA Kenya partners with local organizations like the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and regional institutions such as the East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Efficiency (EACREEE) for broader market coordination and access. Its approach is inclusive: engaging local actors, empowering women and youth, and raising awareness about the tangible benefits of efficiency.

Awareness is the first step. The more Kenyans understand the value of energy efficiency - not as a technical fix, but as an economic and environmental opportunity - the faster we can turn it into action. Kenya's energy transition must be not only green, but smart. Energy efficiency is how we get there. It’s a lesson for Kenya, for Africa, and one that the global discussions should emphasize more than ever.

David Mutisya

National Energy Efficiency Policy Expert, UNIDO