KAM hosts Clean Energy Conference during Changamka Festival

Wednesday 2nd November 2022: Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) today hosted the Clean Energy Conference and Expo during the ongoing Changamka Shopping Festival to deliberate on promoting the uptake of clean and renewable energy by local manufacturers.

The theme of this year’s conference was a pathway to Net Zero: Climate Change and Energy Security. The Conference is an initiative of the Association’s Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation that was established in partnership with the Ministry of Energy.

Engineer Benson Mwakina, Director for Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy observed that renewable energy is a panacea of climate change, saying, “Kenya is endowed with vast natural resources. We need to tap into all sources of renewable energy in the country, including wind, solar and geothermal, among others. Additionally, it is important for us to grow local industry, to enable us to exploit these opportunities.”

KAM Head of Consulting and Business Development Ms Joyce Njogu lauded the local manufacturing sector for increasingly embracing clean energy and transitioning to green and sustainable manufacturing, as the world faces the impact of climate change.

“Climate change is intensifying, and we ought to quickly mitigate it. This calls on us to urgently move from negotiations and planning to implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. KAM recognizes this and that is why we continue to engage our members on sustainable manufacturing practices. We have also partnered with technological and financial providers that are helping link the industry to the different technologies available as we seek to achieve a green economy,” she explained.

One of the government’s initiatives towards this is the Kenya National Efficiency and Conversation Strategy that sets energy and carbon efficiency targets. Kenya is strong in the renewable energy space with over a 90% contribution to the National Grid.

“With COP27 slated to take place in Africa, we have an opportunity to showcase our investment potential for clean and renewable energy. This entails a stable energy structure, political environment, and financial market with a continued resolve towards ensuring a cleaner future by supporting manufacturers through actual implementation by embracing cleaner and more efficient technologies.” Ms Joyce Njogu added.

Energy efficiency is one of the key pillars for reaching net-zero emissions. Additionally, it is one way of driving competitiveness whilst enhancing technological innovation with notable areas of interest being captive solar, energy and water efficiency.

The Clean Energy Conference and Expo is being hosted during the Changamka Shopping Festival that seeks to celebrate the local manufacturing sector.