Why Kenya is betting on geothermal power

Why Kenya is betting on geothermal power

From Business Daily by BBC World Service

April 21, 2026 · 17 min

About this episode

The episode explores Kenya's emergence as a leading producer of geothermal power and its significance to the country's electricity supply.

Kenya is emerging as one of Africa’s leading producers of geothermal power. While it remains a niche but growing industry globally, in Kenya it has become a vital and reliable source of electricity. We explore how this energy is harnessed, why it has become so central to the country’s power supply, and the plans to build what some are calling Africa’s first geothermal‑powered city. If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presented and produced by Michael Kaloki Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business. Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story. Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful. We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs…

People in this episode

Host: Michael Kaloki

Topics covered

  • geothermal power
  • energy production
  • Kenya
  • sustainable energy
  • electricity supply

Keywords

  • geothermal power
  • Kenya
  • electricity
  • sustainable energy
  • energy production

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC World Service

Places: Kenya, Olkaria II geothermal power plant

More episodes of Business Daily

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Business Daily podcast page.