• Unlike hydropower, geothermal energy provides stable, reliable baseload electricity regardless of rainfall, reducing reliance on costly thermal generation and stabilising the power supply.

Nakuru County has firmly established itself as Kenya’s geothermal powerhouse, sitting at the heart of the Great Rift Valley where the country’s richest geothermal resources lie.

With its two major geothermal fields, Menengai and Olkaria, Nakuru contributes a significant share of Kenya’s clean, renewable electricity, making it a cornerstone of the nation’s energy sector.

The Menengai geothermal field, located within the spectacular Menengai Crater approximately 20 to 30 kilometres north of Nakuru City, is one of Africa’s largest high-temperature geothermal prospects.

The Menengai I power station, with a capacity of 35 MW, was developed by a consortium through a Special Purpose Vehicle to design, build, operate, and maintain the plant.

The Geothermal Development Company (GDC), a state-owned firm whose wells in the crater have the potential to generate up to 105 MW of electric energy, supplies steam for the station.

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Menengai II, also 35 MW, is owned by Globeleq, an independent power producer based in London, and benefits from GDC-drilled wells capable of generating up to 130 MW.

Menengai III, similarly sized at 35 MW, reached full commercial commissioning in August 2023 and is owned by Sosian Menengai Geothermal Power Limited.

This innovative public-private partnership model allows GDC to handle the high-risk drilling while private investors build and operate the plants, accelerating the development of geothermal resources in Kenya.

Further south, within the scenic Hell’s Gate National Park, lies the Olkaria geothermal complex, Kenya’s oldest and most extensive geothermal field.

Located about 40 kilometres southwest of Naivasha and approximately 121 kilometres northwest of Nairobi, Olkaria hosts multiple power stations, including Olkaria I through V.

Olkaria I, the first geothermal station in Kenya, has an installed capacity of 268.3 MW and is operated by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen).

Olkaria II, with 105 MW, and Olkaria III, with 139 MW, further expanded geothermal production, with Olkaria III being the first privately owned geothermal plant in the country, developed by Ormat Technologies from the United States.

Olkaria IV and V, commissioned in 2014 and 2019 respectively, added 150 MW and 158 MW, collectively ensuring that the Olkaria complex contributes well over 800 MW to the national grid.

Nakuru’s geothermal resources have transformed the county into a critical driver of Kenya’s green energy future.

Unlike hydropower, geothermal energy provides stable, reliable baseload electricity regardless of rainfall, reducing reliance on costly thermal generation and stabilising the power supply.

Beyond electricity generation, the geothermal sector has created employment opportunities, stimulated infrastructure growth, and boosted investor confidence in Kenya’s renewable energy landscape.

As global attention turns toward climate change and sustainable development, Nakuru’s geothermal success serves as a model for other African nations along the Rift Valley system.

With ongoing exploration and future expansion in both Menengai and Olkaria, Nakuru is not just powering Kenya it is leading the way toward a greener, energy-secure Africa.

Today, Nakuru is more than a county of scenic lakes and wildlife; it is the beating heart of Kenya’s geothermal revolution.

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