The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) and Ministry of Energy and Petroleum today hosted H.E. Thani Mohamed Soilihi, the French Minister Delegate for Francophonie and International Partnerships, for a site visit to the National System Control Centre (NSCC) project site in Embakasi, Nairobi.
H.E. Thani Mohamed Soilihi was received by Mr. Alex Wachira, CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department of Energy, and Dr. (Eng.) John Mativo, KETRACO Managing Director and CEO, emphasizing the strong bilateral ties and shared collaboration to advancing Kenya’s National Electricity Transmission Grid.
This NSCC project, with a total budget of €82.7 million (KES 12 Billion), is financed by France through a €48.6 million concessional sovereign loan from the French Development Agency (AFD) and a €34.1 million concessional loan from the French Treasury. The construction contract has been awarded to a consortium comprising GE Vernova and Larsen & Toubro (L&T). It is a flagship example of strategic French financing and French expertise in the energy sector in Kenya.
This initiative is a priority for Kenya, promising significant environmental benefits through better integration of renewable energy sources, social advantages by improving access to electricity, and economic gains by reducing outages and transmission losses. The NSCC is part of the larger AFD RETNET program (€94 million), which also includes the development of a digital substation in Makindu, technical assistance, completion of ongoing works on the Nairobi Ring and sectoral studies conducted by the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum. Moreover, a €7 million grant from the European Union, delegated to AFD, is allocated for capacity building in grid management, primarily benefiting KETRACO.
“France is committed to supporting critical infrastructure projects that enhance sustainability, energy reliability and economic growth. As Kenya's power infrastructure grows, a modern NSCC will significantly enhance robust electricity infrastructure and grid stability, prevent blackouts and support the transition from diesel generators to reliable, green energy sources, as part of the broader ongoing collaboration between Kenya and France on energy transition. This project is a strong testament to the enduring partnership between Kenya and France in the energy and climate sectors. It is fully financed by France with two separate and complementary financing from AFD and the French Treasury. With over 1 billion euros in completed and ongoing financing, Kenya holds the largest energy portfolio for AFD in East Africa.” said H.E Arnaud Suquet the French Ambassador to Kenya.
‘‘The new NSCC will play a crucial role not only in strengthening Kenya’s electricity system but also in connecting national power grids across the Eastern and Southern Africa power pools. On 11th April 2025, the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector—also
benefiting from substantial EU support—was launched in Lusaka, Zambia. Together with
the NSCC, it represents a key investment to enable cross-border energy trade, expand transmission capacity, and strengthen reliable power supply. The European Union is fully committed to stepping up and accelerating joint action in the development and deployment of renewable energy projects in Kenya and across Africa through the Global Gateway strategy, which brings together the European Union, its Member States, and European development finance institutions. Together, we aim to mobilise up to €300 billion in public and private investments by 2027, creating essential links rather than dependencies, and closing the global investment gap,” said H.E. Henriette Geiger, European Union Ambassador to Kenya.
The NSCC is expected to transform Kenya’s electricity grid into a robust, efficient, and regionally integrated system. The project involves the design, supply, and installation of a dual-redundant national control system to enhance KETRACO’s capacity as the Transmission System Operator, in line with the Kenya National Transmission Grid Code.
The main control Centre will be situated at the Embakasi substation, with a mirrored Emergency Control Centre at the Suswa substation complex. Both will be equipped with high-performance Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)/Energy Management Systems (EMS) and an Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system.
At the same time, the project entails full integration of substation outstations and a comprehensive upgrade of the communication network to support seamless, secure data exchange across the national grid.
The NSCC is expected to deliver the following key benefits:
• Enhanced real-time grid supervision and automated electricity dispatching.
• Reduced unscheduled power outages and transmission losses.
• Improved integration of renewable energy sources.
• Strengthened regional interconnector coordination within the Eastern Africa Power Pool.
• Readiness for future electricity market operations, in line with national and regional policy frameworks.
“This initiative demonstrates the Government’s commitment to building a modern and intelligent power system,” said Dr. Eng. John Mativo, KETRACO Managing Director, adding “The NSCC is the backbone infrastructure that will anchor Kenya’s transition to a more stable, efficient, and interconnected grid.”
The commercial contract entered into force on February 7, 2025, and the project is scheduled for completion within 36 months, by February 6, 2028. The financing arrangement, initially signed on March 14, 2019 (Reference: CKE 1127 01 J), is currently under extension through the National Treasury to align with revised timelines.