On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders gathered at Emara Ole-Sereni Hotel in Nairobi, for the CEO’s Roundtable Breakfast Meeting focused on the transformative potential of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Kenya’s energy sector. The event, organized by Esri Eastern Africa, aimed to foster collaborative discussions and strategic alignments to integrate GIS solutions in line with the Kenya Energy Sector Roadmap 2040.

Setting the Stage for Transformation

The event kicked off at 7:00 AM with an early arrival and networking breakfast. Attendees had the opportunity to register, engage in networking, and discuss the upcoming sessions over a delightful breakfast. This initial gathering set a collaborative tone, encouraging participants to share insights and expectations for the day ahead.

GIS: A Catalyst for Kenya’s Energy Revolution

At 7:30 AM, the opening session began with a keynote address on the role of GIS as a catalyst for Kenya’s energy revolution. Esri representatives provided an overview of the Roadmap Alignment and highlighted GIS solutions for integrated energy planning. The keynote underscored the importance of leveraging GIS technology to accelerate Kenya’s low-carbon transition and achieve the ambitious energy goals set out in the roadmap.

Overcoming Energy Challenges with GIS

From 8:15 AM to 9:00 AM, a panel discussion delved into the challenges outlined in the Kenya Energy Sector Roadmap 2040. Industry experts showcased GIS-driven solutions for effective energy planning and addressed key issues such as capacity growth, diversification of energy sources, and project management. The discussion emphasized GIS’s role in overcoming these challenges and driving sustainable energy development.

Networking and Interactive Workshop

A tea and coffee break at 9:00 AM allowed attendees to continue networking and exchanging ideas. Following the break, an interactive workshop from 9:30 AM to 10:15 AM provided hands-on exploration of GIS tools for stakeholder engagement and effective energy asset management. Participants engaged with practical GIS applications, learning how these technologies can facilitate stakeholder collaboration and optimize energy resources.

Charting the Course for Kenya’s Energy Future

The closing session at 10:15 AM summarized the insights gained throughout the morning and outlined the next steps for GIS integration in line with the roadmap principles. Esri Eastern Africa emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and commitment to leveraging GIS technology to achieve Kenya’s energy goals. The session concluded with a call to action for participants to champion GIS adoption in their respective organizations.

Key Insights from the Roadmap

The roundtable highlighted several key enrichments from the Kenya Energy Sector Roadmap 2040, including:

• Accelerating Capacity Growth: The roadmap’s imperative to install an average of 5 GW/year between 2022 and 2040, attracting over US$300bn in energy investments, with GIS playing a crucial role in catalyzing rapid capacity expansion.
• Diversification of Energy Sources: Optimizing the planning and integration of diverse energy sources such as geothermal, hydropower, oil, wind, and solar through GIS technologies.
• Projects Under Construction and Development: Exploring GIS applications in managing and scaling ongoing and upcoming projects, particularly the 500 MW under construction and the substantial 11.8 GW under development.

• Access to Electricity and Affordability Targets: Facilitating the roadmap’s commitment to achieving 100% access to electricity by 2030 and reducing household electricity bills by 50% by 2040 through GIS solutions.
• Transition to Sustainable Practices: Utilizing GIS to end reliance on backup generators, reduce unsustainable household biomass use by 50% by 2040, and achieve a 100% electrification rate.
• Transition to Sustainable Practices: Utilizing GIS to end reliance on backup generators, reduce unsustainable household biomass use by 50% by 2040, and achieve a 100% electrification rate.

The CEO’s Roundtable Breakfast Meeting successfully underscored the transformative potential of GIS technology in Kenya’s energy sector. By fostering strategic alliances and collaborative discussions, the event laid the groundwork for a sustainable and technologically advanced energy landscape in Kenya. Participants left the meeting equipped with new insights, practical knowledge, and a shared vision for integrating GIS solutions to drive the country’s energy revolution.