MPs raise alarm over engineer exodus, delays in Kenya–Ethiopia power link project
By Francis Muli, May 19, 2026Members of Parliament have raised concerns over the growing exodus of skilled engineers and delays affecting major energy projects after inspecting the Kenya–Ethiopia power interconnection infrastructure and geothermal facilities in Rift Valley.
The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Energy and Petroleum toured the Suswa electricity hub in Narok County and geothermal plants in Olkaria, Nakuru County, as lawmakers assessed Kenya’s regional electricity integration plans and challenges facing the sector.
At the centre of the inspection was the 1,065-kilometre Kenya–Ethiopia High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission line, a multi-billion-shilling project designed to strengthen regional power trade and improve electricity reliability across East Africa.
The Suswa complex hosts the 500kV HVDC transmission corridor alongside 400kV and 220kV substations that form a critical part of Kenya’s national power infrastructure.
Officials told MPs that the hub currently supplies nearly 40 per cent of Kenya’s electricity demand through geothermal energy generated in Olkaria and wind power from the Lake Turkana Wind Power project.
Kenya currently imports 200 megawatts of electricity from Ethiopia during peak demand periods and 65 megawatts during off-peak hours, though this only represents about 10 per cent of the transmission line’s full 2,000MW capacity.
However, lawmakers expressed alarm over the increasing migration of highly trained engineers managing the strategic energy infrastructure.
Chepalungu MP Victor Koech warned that Kenya risks losing critical technical expertise despite investing heavily in specialised training.
“You have trained 18 engineers and already lost seven of them to Europe within three years. It is very dangerous for the country to invest heavily in training experts only for them to leave immediately after gaining experience,” Koech said.
He urged energy agencies to introduce mandatory service agreements requiring engineers trained using public resources to work locally for a specified period before taking up opportunities abroad.
The Committee also raised concerns over repeated vandalism targeting optical fibre infrastructure along the transmission corridor.
Ruiru MP Simon King’ara warned that continued sabotage could cripple the strategic regional power project if urgent interventions are not implemented.
“If vandalism is not taken care of, the project becomes obsolete. Since you are the transmitters of this power, why can’t you advise more aggressively on how to secure this infrastructure?” posed King’ara.
Senior Engineer Samson Akuto told the MPs that authorities had installed surveillance systems, including sensors and CCTV cameras, along vulnerable sections of the transmission line.
“We have a challenge with response time. That is why we are seeking to acquire drones and choppers to help deal with these incidents swiftly,” Akuto said.
He added that plans to install Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) systems to stabilise voltage fluctuations were also underway.
At the Suswa geothermal field, lawmakers encountered another challenge after discovering a massive drilling rig transferred from the Menengai geothermal project lying idle due to lack of funding.
Officials from the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) disclosed that the stalled project is currently costing about Ksh5 million daily in operational and staffing expenses.
They told MPs that an additional Ksh151 million is needed to complete a water intake system before drilling activities can begin.
The Committee also inspected rehabilitation works at KenGen’s Olkaria I geothermal power station, Africa’s oldest geothermal plant, which has been operational since 1981.
KenGen is undertaking a Ksh15 billion rehabilitation programme aimed at increasing electricity generation capacity from 45MW to 63MW through the installation of modern high-efficiency turbines that consume less steam.
The company is also developing “topping plants” at Olkaria I and II, projects expected to inject an additional 40MW into the national grid by harnessing excess high-pressure steam that currently goes unused.
However, officials revealed that the rehabilitation programme has faced multiple setbacks, including community protests, theft of construction materials and a Ksh1.5 billion budget cut.
The inspection comes as Kenya continues positioning itself as a regional energy hub through investments in geothermal power, transmission infrastructure and cross-border electricity trade aimed at reducing energy costs and improving supply stability across the region.