Kenya’s energy sector is being transformed by women who are breaking barriers and leading key initiatives across the country.From electrifying rural areas to managing corporate strategy, these professionals are setting new standards in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Esther Rutto
General Manager, Power Distribution and Regional Coordination Directorate, Kenya Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation
Esther Ruto switched from Commerce to Engineering early in university, a bold move at a time when engineering was considered unfeminine.
She now leads Kenya’s rural electrification efforts, connecting villages and empowering local communities.Her work has helped expand local businesses and bring electricity to households that had never experienced it before.
Sarah Wepukhulu
Connectivity Manager, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC)
Sarah Wepukhulu began her career in KPLC’s telecommunications team, managing fibre services for power generation plants.Despite initial attempts by colleagues to shield her from field assignments due to her motherhood responsibilities, Wepukhulu fully engaged in fieldwork, gaining hands-on experience across substations and generation stations, proving women can excel in all technical roles.
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Nancy Murithi
Green Growth & Climate Change Officer, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (Kenya)
Nancy Murithi serves as the Green Growth and Climate Change Officer at the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, where she plays a key role in driving energy efficiency and influencing climate policy across the region.
Recognised as an award-winning trainer and advisor, she supports organizations and equips young people across Africa to adopt sustainable solutions and build climate-resilient futures.
Grace Aswani Ngigi
Insurance and Integrity Manager, Kenya Power and Lighting Company
Joining KPLC in 1996, Grace Aswani Ngigi faced the dual challenge of being a woman and a non-engineer in a technical environment.
She prepared extensively, familiarizing herself with all power substations and generation stations, ensuring she could perform with confidence and credibility in a male-dominated industry.
Catherine Gitamo
Learning and Development Manager, Kenya Power and Lighting Company
Catherine Gitamo joined KPLC as one of its youngest managers.
Facing skepticism for her age and gender, she emphasizes active participation in meetings and leadership opportunities, advocating for inclusivity and encouraging women to assert themselves in professional spaces.
Fiona Magomere
Power System Control Engineer
Fiona is at the heart of efforts to strengthen Kenya’s electricity network. She focuses on improving the stability and efficiency of power systems while pushing for wider access to clean energy.
Outside her engineering duties, Fiona is known for mentoring young people interested in STEM careers. She also uses storytelling to inspire collaboration and encourage a more inclusive energy transition across Africa.
Agnes Obara
Chief Planning Officer, Regional Planning, Kenya Power and Lighting Company
Agnes Obara began her career in customer service and now oversees regional strategic planning while chairing KPLC’s gender committee.
She develops initiatives to increase gender diversity and works on electrification projects targeting underserved counties, highlighting the positive impact of energy access on women’s social and economic well-being.
Ogutu Okudo
She is an accomplished energy and governance professional with extensive experience across public and private sectors.Since June 2023, she has served as an Executive Committee Member at the University of Aberdeen, contributing to the university’s governance through the Business Committee.
She is the Founder and CEO of Guuru Energy in Nairobi, a role she has held since July 2021.
She has provided strategic guidance as an Advisory Board Member at the African Energy Chamber since July 2020.Her experience includes serving as an Executive Board Member at the National Oil Corporation of Kenya and as a Non-Executive Director at Bboxx, supporting clean energy initiatives.
Additionally, she contributed to advocacy and mentorship in the energy sector as a Board Member of the Association for Women in Energy and Extractives in Kenya (AWEIK).
Joy Nancy Ogechi
Nancy brings over seven years of experience in managing development projects. As an Energy and Project Engineer at KPLC, she works on major initiatives supported by government agencies and international partners.
Joy’s projects help improve essential facilities such as hospitals, expand infrastructure, and support economic growth by delivering reliable energy solutions where they are needed most.
Lilian Kanana
She is a seasoned electrical engineer specializing in renewable energy, currently working at Kenya Power since September 2015.
In her role, she leads teams in planning, designing, and implementing renewable-energy-based electrical systems, conducting feasibility studies, financial analyses, and site assessments, while managing procurement, contracts, and regulatory compliance.
She oversees operations and maintenance of low- and medium-voltage networks, most powered by renewable energy, and implements project management tools, monitors risks, prepares financial reports, and ensures safety standards across project sites.She has earned recognition as an ISA Fellow, IEEE PES Vice Chair, and research award recipient (AQOEA 2024.Recently, she received the prestigious Africa Queen of Energy Awards,
Florah Kamanja
Florah also holds the position of Chairperson of Governance and Controls at the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) and is a former Chair of the IEK Women Engineers Committee.She serves as a council member at IEK and chairs the FAEO Nuclear Commission, reflecting her expertise in nuclear and energy projects.
Her career trajectory at KenGen includes roles as Senior Engineer (2007–2015), Project Expert (2015–2022), and her current managerial role since 2022, where she leads strategic energy planning and project appraisal for national power projects.
Norah Magero
Norah is an experienced leader in the energy and sustainability sector, with a strong background in renewable energy, climate finance, and sustainable development.She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Drop Access Limited since September 2021 and a Co-Founder of Drop Access Org since January 2018.
She serves on several advisory and governance boards, including as an Advisory Board Member at RES4Africa Foundation since February 2024 and a Council Member at the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET) since June 2022.
She has contributed her expertise as a Sustainability Advisor for Youth for Sustainable Energy and Mobility since January 2024 and was an Affiliate at Berkeley Lab in early 2022.Her work on climate finance includes serving as a Water-Energy-Food Nexus Expert at Impact Nexus and as a member of the Working Group for the Rural Prosperity Bond at the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance from April to September 2020.
