Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) in partnership with the Ministry of Energy successfully held the Second National Energy Conference on October 4 to 6, 2011 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The conference was opened by His Excellency the President, Mwai Kibaki and closed by His Excellency the Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.
Following up on the First Energy Conference held in 2008, the theme of this year’s conference was “Powering the Vision: Energy Security for Delivery of Vision 2030”. It was crucial to enhance the role and performance of the energy sector in meeting the energy demands of the country as it moved towards a medium sized and competitive country as envisaged in its economic blue print, Kenya Vision 2030.
The conference which attracted policy makers, industry experts and academia from public and private sector and even civil society organizations at the local, regional and international level was out to address the following key issues:
- Review achievements in the energy sector since the first energy conference;
- Consider the implications of the Constitution of Kenya on energy sector planning, investment, and overall management especially mechanisms for effective linkage with other sectors and between the two levels of government;
- Consider the global energy sector developments and their implications for Kenya’s energy requirements towards the year 2030 and beyond; and,
- Assist in the identification, review and contextualisation of measures to enhance Kenya’s energy security towards the year 2030 and beyond.
These issues provided thought provoking presentations and discussions on data harmonization across various energy sub-sectors, the high cost, stringent conditions and lengthy procedures required to finance energy projects, shortage of qualified human resource and the disconnect between teaching institutions and the skills demanded by the industry as well as the need to develop mandatory energy efficiency standards in the sector.
The desired outcome was to engage in a stimulating and practical outlook for the future of the energy sector in terms of its security by using existing and sustainable energy sources. During the conference, key resolutions were derived from discussions in plenary sessions and breakaway groups. The follow-up given to the event will be critical for furthering and eventually implementing the ideas and recommendations generated.
