Earth Day 2025: Our Power, Our Planet
This year’s Earth Day theme, ‘Our Power, Our Planet’ is more than a slogan. It’s a rallying cry. Regionally, and right here in Kenya, the call to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 has ignited action. From schools to policy rooms, people are embracing a shared narrative: our power lies in how we choose to protect and preserve our planet.
Kenya’s story is one of both promise and paradox. With nearly 90% of its electricity generated from renewable sources; geothermal, wind, hydro, and solar, the country stands as a beacon of clean energy leadership on the continent. The Lake Turkana Wind Power project, which is Africa’s largest, delivers power to over a million homes. In the Rift Valley, geothermal plants tap into the earth’s natural heat, providing reliable, low-emission electricity.
But beneath these successes lie persistent challenges. Roughly one in four Kenyans still lack access to electricity, particularly in rural and marginalized communities. Even where the grid exists, it is often unreliable or unaffordable. For many families, kerosene lamps remain the only source of light after dark. For small businesses, power outages mean lost income. And for children, homework ends when the sun goes down.
This is where the conversation shifts; from energy production to energy justice.
A just transition means that the move toward clean energy doesn’t leave anyone behind. It recognizes that climate solutions must be rooted in equity. In Kenya, this includes empowering women, who are often primary energy users in households but underrepresented in energy planning. It means involving indigenous communities in decision-making, supporting youth in green innovation, and ensuring that green jobs go to those who need them most.
In Samburu County, community-owned solar mini-grids are lighting up remote villages. In Kibera, youth collect e-waste and turn it into affordable solar lamps. These local stories illustrate a powerful truth: clean energy is not just about technology, it’s about people. It’s about resilience in the face of climate shocks, and opportunity in places long overlooked.
Kenya’s policies, such as the Energy Act 2019 and the country’s ambitious Vision 2030, lay the groundwork for scaling up this transformation, but policy must be paired with action. Financing for small-scale renewable projects must be made more accessible. Technical training programs need to reach the grassroots. And energy must be redefined not just as an infrastructure goal, but as a human right.
On this Earth Day, Kenyans are marching, planting trees, joining webinars, and sparking conversations around clean energy. But more importantly, they are demanding a future where sustainability and justice go hand in hand. Because the path to climate resilience is not paved solely with solar panels and wind farms. It is built through inclusive systems, community power and bold leadership.
As the world watches, Kenya is showing what’s possible, not just a transition to renewable energy but a transformation of society powered by equity, dignity, and hope.
On this Earth Day 2025, may we remember: Our power lies in our choices. And our planet is waiting.