World Bank: Kenyan Businesses Pay 50% More for Electricity Than Uganda

A World Bank report reveals Kenyan commercial users pay around 17.5 US cents per kilowatt-hour, compared to 11.8 cents in Uganda and 7.8 cents in Vietnam, due to opaque power purchase agreements and weak procurement where only 24% of deals used competitive bidding.

High transmission losses over 23% and direct negotiations add to the costs, hitting a large industrial customer with annual bills near KSh 2 billion far above peers like Tanzania and Ethiopia.

People are calling for more transparency, competitive auctions, and grid fixes to cut prices, boost jobs, and fuel Kenya's 4.6% growth expected in 2026.