Kenya requires approximately Sh30.4 billion ($235 million) to equip around 3,800 health facilities across the country that currently lack electricity, and to stabilise backup power for existing connections.
An analysis by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) reveals that of this total amount needed—inclusive of Sh17.2 billion ($133 million) for private facilities and Sh13.1 billion ($102 million) for public facilities—only about Sh1.3 billion ($10 million) has been provided by donors, resulting in a funding gap of Sh29.1 billion ($225 million).
The needs are spread across all levels of the health system. Tier 1 facilities, such as dispensaries and health posts, require approximately Sh55 million ($429,000), whereas Tier 2 health centres require around Sh297.3 million ($2.3 million).
The greatest burden lies with Tier 3 facilities, including sub-county and county hospitals, which require Sh25.6 billion ($198 million).
These larger hospitals carry the heaviest service load and are most reliant on stable electricity for surgeries, laboratories, maternity services, and inpatient care.
According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), a global research organisation, 26 percent of the country’s medical facilities lack a power connection, while 85 percent of grid-connected facilities experience interruptions, leaving many vulnerable to frequent outages that disrupt critical services such as vaccine storage, emergency surgeries, and safe maternal deliveries.
"Although electricity access in Kenya has improved significantly over the last decade, reaching 75 percent of the total population, 26 percent of medical facilities still lack a power connection and only 15 percent of grid-connected facilities receive uninterrupted electricity," the report stated.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) estimates that there are around 14,900 healthcare facilities in Kenya.
Among these, thousands operate without power, while many others depend on unstable or expensive backup. Almost half of the connected facilities report outages at least once a week, with over half experiencing blackouts lasting more than seven hours.
A field study by SEforALL and the Climate and Energy Access Programme (CLASP) of 29 health facilities in Kisumu County found that Muhoroni County Hospital had no power for 40–50 percent of the day, resulting in delays to and cancellations of essential procedures. Vaccine refrigerators often malfunction, with 40 percent of facilities reporting regular spoilage.
Equipment such as infant warmers and incubators, which are crucial for newborn survival, shut down during blackouts. Surgeries and sterilisation processes are also disrupted due to the infrequent use of autoclaves (pressurized steam device that sterilises items), which can only be used once every two weeks due to high energy costs.
"Power disruptions pose the most significant risk in areas such as maternal care, emergency services, and diagnostics," the report noted.
Around half of all facilities rely on diesel generators as their main backup power source, while others use a combination of solar power and generators, often prioritising maternity wards, laboratories, and pharmacies. However, diesel is expensive, polluting, and unreliable.
In contrast, successful solar initiatives demonstrate the potential for improvement.
For example, Kisumu Airport Health Centre reduced its monthly electricity bill to under Sh500 ($4) after installing solar panels in 2021, enabling resources to be reallocated towards medication and patient care.
Efficiency gains could cut energy demand in half, achieving savings of 55 percent for blood bank refrigerators, 53 percent for infant warmers, and 75 percent for oxygen concentrators. This would make solar systems more affordable and reliable.
SEforALL has ranked Kenya as one of the top five African countries with the greatest need for investment in healthcare facility electrification, alongside Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, and Zambia.
The financing estimate includes new grid connections and backup systems, such as solar-plus-battery storage, to ensure uninterrupted power for critical medical services, including surgeries, maternal care, and vaccine cold chains.
Donor financing has been limited. Kenya is one of seven countries receiving significant healthcare electrification support from organisations such as the World Bank, USAid/Power Africa, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UK Department for International Development (UKAID), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the IKEA Foundation, Gavi, and the Global Fund.
However, total donor funding across these priority countries amounts to only $175–250 million — approximately 10 percent of the $2.7 billion needed. For Kenya, this results in a shortfall of over $200 million.
The World Bank estimates that $4.9 billion (Sh52.9 trillion) is urgently needed to bring healthcare facilities in 63 low-and middle-income countries, including Kenya, up to a minimum level of electrification, ensuring all essential health services are adequately covered.
"Access to reliable electricity is fundamental to the delivery of modern healthcare. From powering life-saving equipment to ensuring safe childbirth at night, electricity is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Yet across Kenya, many public hospitals and rural health facilities still struggle with power outages, erratic grid connections, or have no access at all," said Solar Financed, a solar investment data platform.
According to the UN’s Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2024, as of 2022, Kenya has made substantial progress in expanding electrification, achieving a 76 percent access rate, with an annual growth rate of 4.8 percent.
“Health is a human right and a public good. To ensure that all healthcare facilities have a reliable electricity supply, address health inequities, achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (including universal health coverage), and mitigate climate change, significant policy changes and increased support are necessary,” said the World Health Organisation.
