Kenya is seeking new energy partnerships and alternative fuel supply arrangements as rising global oil prices fuel social unrest and deepen pressure on households already struggling with high living costs.
President William Ruto held talks in Baku on May 17 with Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR on potential cooperation in oil and gas exploration, refinery development and renewable energy projects.
The discussions come as East Africa’s largest economy faces mounting anger over successive fuel price increases that have triggered transport strikes and protests in several major cities.
In Nairobi, taxi and truck drivers blocked major roads to protest what they described as unsustainable operating costs linked to rising diesel and petrol prices. Demonstrators clashed with security forces during the unrest, leaving four people dead and more than 30 injured, according to Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen.
The protests have highlighted growing public frustration over the rising cost of living, with higher fuel prices feeding into transport fares and food costs across the country.
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Kenyan authorities have partly blamed the fuel price increases on tensions between the United States and Iran, which they say are disrupting global oil markets and increasing uncertainty over supply routes.
Officials have also pointed to instability around the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic shipping corridor through which a significant share of the world’s oil exports passes.
Kenya imports most of its refined petroleum products from the Middle East, leaving the country vulnerable to fluctuations in international prices and disruptions in supply chains.
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The government is now seeking to reduce that dependence through a broader energy diversification strategy.
Talks with SOCAR included discussions on possible participation in an East African oil refinery project aimed at boosting regional refining capacity and reducing reliance on imported fuel products.
Kenya shut down its only refinery more than a decade ago and has since relied heavily on imported refined products to meet domestic demand.
Officials say reviving regional refining capacity could help shield the economy from external shocks and improve long-term energy security.
Beyond oil and gas, Nairobi is also looking to expand investment in renewable energy and natural gas as part of plans to increase electricity generation capacity.
The government aims to install 10,000 megawatts of power capacity over the next decade through a mix of geothermal, wind, solar and gas-powered projects.
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Kenya already generates a large share of its electricity from renewable sources, particularly geothermal energy, but authorities say additional investment is needed to support industrial growth and rising urban demand.
Still, the government’s long-term energy ambitions are increasingly being overshadowed by immediate social and economic pressures.
In the port city of Mombasa, transport strikes have raised concerns about supply chain disruptions and delays in the movement of goods from the country’s main gateway for regional trade.
Negotiations between government officials and transport sector representatives have so far failed to produce an agreement on reducing fares or easing pressure on operators facing rising fuel costs.
Finance Minister John Mbadi said authorities would consider additional support measures after President Ruto’s return from Azerbaijan.
Analysts warn that prolonged unrest could weigh further on economic activity and investor confidence at a time when Kenya is already dealing with inflationary pressures, a weakening currency and high public debt.
For the government, the challenge is becoming increasingly urgent: containing growing social tensions while pursuing an energy strategy designed to reduce Kenya’s long-term dependence on imported fuel and volatile global markets.
