When the first County Energy Plans were being developed in Narok and Makueni, the ambition was clear, but the outcome was far from certain.

Could a university help transform how counties plan for energy? Could research move beyond journals into government boardrooms, informing policy and improving the lives of millions? Could sub-national governments build the technical capacity to chart their own clean energy future?

Today, those questions have been answered.

Following the successful delivery of County Energy Plan for Narok county and County Energy Plan, Investment Prospectus and County Energy Policy for Makueni County,  Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC) in partnership with Practical Action (PA), Kenya (Lead Partner) and KTH, Sweden, with support from UK PACT, have been entrusted with developing County Energy Plans, Investment Prospectus and Energy Policies for  additional counties, including Siaya, Tharaka Nithi, Kajiado, Muranga, and Homa Bay by March 2027.

The expansion is a vote of confidence in a model that has demonstrated how academic research, government leadership and international partnerships can come together to solve real-world challenges.

For Strathmore University and the consortium partners, PA and KTH, it marks another milestone in translating research into national development.

The County Energy Plans support the implementation of Kenya’s Energy Act, 2019, which requires every county government to develop an integrated energy plan. Yet for many counties, limited technical expertise, inadequate data and resource constraints have slowed implementation.

That is where SERC and the consortium Partners stepped in. Working alongside county governments and supported by UK PACT, SERC in collaboration with WRI (World Resources Institute) developed comprehensive, evidence-based plans for Narok and Makueni that combined detailed energy data collection, renewable energy resource assessments, clean cooking strategies, GIS mapping, energy demand forecasting and institutional capacity building.

Rather than producing documents destined for shelves, the project equipped county governments with the skills and systems needed to continuously update and implement their own energy plans.

Building on the success of the first phase, SERC in partnership with PA and KTH will now support Siaya, Tharaka Nithi, Kajiado, Muranga, and Homa Bay counties in developing robust County Energy Plans, Investment Prospectus and Energy Policies tailored to their unique economic activities, energy resources and development priorities.

The plans will identify investment opportunities, promote renewable energy adoption, strengthen energy access, encourage clean cooking technologies, improve energy efficiency and support climate-resilient development across the four counties.

For communities, this means more than better planning. It means schools with reliable electricity, health facilities powered by sustainable energy, cleaner cooking solutions for households, stronger local businesses and county governments equipped to make evidence-based decisions that improve livelihoods.

Speaking on the award, Prof. Izael Da Silva, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation, described the expansion as a powerful affirmation of Strathmore University’s commitment to research that creates measurable societal impact.

“This recognition demonstrates what becomes possible when universities move beyond knowledge generation and actively work alongside government and development partners to solve society’s most pressing challenges,” said Prof. Da Silva. “The success in Narok and Makueni has shown that research can become a catalyst for better policy, stronger institutions and sustainable development.”

Prof. Da Silva noted that the project’s success was anchored on what he described as the Triple Helix approach, a collaborative model that brings together academia, government, and development partners to co-create practical solutions.

He added that the expansion to four additional counties demonstrates growing confidence in the University’s ability to provide research-driven solutions that influence policy while strengthening institutional capacity at the county level.

The initiative further reinforces Strathmore University’s position as a national leader in applied energy research and sustainable development. Through the Strathmore Energy Research Centre, the University continues to bridge the gap between scientific research and public policy, ensuring that innovation delivers tangible benefits to communities.

As Kenya accelerates its transition towards universal energy access and a low-carbon economy, County Energy Plans are becoming increasingly important in guiding investments, attracting private sector participation and supporting climate commitments.

For Siaya, Tharaka Nithi, Murang’a, Kajiado and Homa Bay, the journey is only beginning. For Strathmore University and the consortium partners, it is another chapter in a growing story, one where research does not end in laboratories or lecture halls, but helps shape the future of counties, communities, and the nation itself.

Article written by Stephen Wakhu.