Kenya's electricity demand has reached record levels, driven by a sharp increase in customer connections and heightened usage during the ongoing cold season, according to Kenya Power.

The utility firm recorded a peak demand of 2,362.28 megawatts (MW) on July 23, 2025—the highest ever in the country’s history. This surpassed the previous record of 2,325 MW set just three weeks earlier on July 2. That figure had already overtaken the earlier peak of 2,316 MW recorded in February this year.

Kenya Power attributed the spike to more Kenyans turning to electricity for heating as low temperatures continue to be felt across the country.

“The new peak demand is a testament to our commitment to drive national electricity access through the deployment of various electrification projects,” said Joseph Siror, the company's Managing Director and CEO.

In the five-month period, national power demand has increased by 46 MW, with expectations of further growth in the coming months.

During the financial year ending June 30, Kenya Power connected over 400,000 new customers to the national grid.

The surge is not limited to homes. Kenya Power is also focusing on commercial and industrial users, who consume a substantial portion of the electricity supplied.

“We are at various stages of implementation of the last-mile connectivity projects that have been commissioned across the country,” Siror said.

“We expect that the onboarding of these customers will push electricity demand further.”

The utility company is also positioning itself to support future growth through emerging technologies, particularly electric mobility and modern cooking solutions.

This year, Kenya Power plans to set up 45 electric vehicle charging stations in six counties as part of efforts to meet the growing demand for clean transport.

Simultaneously, it has launched electric cooking hubs in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Kisumu to promote the use of energy-efficient appliances and raise awareness about cleaner and safer cooking alternatives.

It has also partnered with schools and hotels to encourage the adoption of electric cooking in institutional kitchens, as part of a broader campaign to modernise energy use and boost grid consumption.