The Rift Valley National Polytechnic (RVNP), in partnership with the African Union, is breaking ground on a Sh1.3 billion geothermal power project.
Spearheaded by the institution’s Principal, Sammy Chemoiwa, the project is more than just a power plant. It’s a holistic strategy to provide reliable, competitive, and sustainable energy tailored to create jobs, raise incomes, and spur national economic growth.
“Kenya’s vast geothermal reserves, abundant sunshine, and untapped wind corridors have the potential not only to make Kenya energy secure but a continental exporter of green power,” Chemoiwa stated.
Beyond cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the project aims to conserve the environment by reducing the reliance on firewood and charcoal, driving a clean energy transition from within.
The Project Blueprint is in two phases
Phase 1: Surface Study & Exploration, which will cost Sh182 million, with 80% being a grant (Sh146 million) from the African Union under the Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility (GRMF), with RVNP sourcing the remaining Sh36 million. The objective is to conduct a comprehensive surface study to de-risk the project and pave the way for drilling.
Phase 2: Will harness the Resource at a total cost of Sh1.2 billion. African Union will give a matching grant of 600 million, with the Rift Valley National Polytechnic securing the remaining Sh600 million. The objective of this will be to drill and construct the geothermal power plant, bringing the project to full operation.
The project includes plans for an Industrial Park adjacent to the power plant. Industries located there will benefit from some of the lowest electricity tariffs in the country.
“We are proposing to have an Industrial Park… where industries will benefit from our tariffs, which will be among the lowest. This is a major boost towards transition to clean energy,” Chemoiwa assured.
The project is expected to generate at least Sh200 million annually, culminating in an innovation and incubation centre that directly links students to industries.
The RVNP is using this real-world project to champion a Dual Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) programme.
This educational model combines theoretical classroom instruction with practical workplace training. Students will learn geothermal energy theory and then gain hands-on skills through an interchange of training at the TVET institute and partner companies within the industrial park.
“We are exploring a model where students are subjected to a combination of geothermal energy theory and practical training in a real-life work environment,” Chemoiwa explained.
This focus is key to addressing the critical issue of youth employability by delivering job-ready graduates.
A key innovation is the focus on “Direct-Use” applications—using geothermal steam directly for heat in industrial processes, which is often more efficient than just generating electricity.
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