Eng. Julius Riungu Receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Transformative Contributions to Kenya’s Energy Sector

 

Tsavo Power Company Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Julius Riungu, has been awarded a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating more than three decades of influential leadership, innovation, and reform within Kenya’s energy sector.

The honour, presented on Thursday by the Energy Sector Awards Committee (ESAC), recognises Eng. Riungu’s 32-year career defined by engineering excellence, pioneering policy work, and a lasting impact on the nation’s power infrastructure.

A Career That Helped Reshape Kenya’s Energy Landscape

Eng. Riungu launched his professional journey at the Kenya Thermal Oil Company (KTOC), where he steadily rose through technical and managerial ranks. His early work placed him at the cutting edge of Kenya’s energy transition.

He is widely credited with playing a pivotal role in the introduction of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in the country. He helped draft Kenya’s first IPP contract and contributed to legislation that opened the energy generation market to private investors—an achievement that later influenced reforms across several African nations.

In his advisory capacity at the Ministry of Energy, Eng. Riungu was involved in landmark sector reforms, which included the establishment of KETRACO and the Geothermal Development Company (GDC), as well as significant expansion of the rural electrification programme. While celebrating these milestones, he acknowledged that some policy decisions yielded unintended challenges, offering a candid reflection on the complexities of long-term energy reform.

Championing Public–Private Partnerships

Eng. Riungu’s leadership extended deeply into the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) space, particularly in renewable energy development. He oversaw several solar and clean-energy initiatives and pointed to successful collaborations with the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), such as the CHEO partnership. He noted, however, that political disruptions have at times undermined the continuity of long-term PPP contracts—a concern he urged the industry to address proactively.

Leadership Beyond the Boardroom

A committed advocate for the engineering profession, Eng. Riungu has served as chair of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) and later as President of the Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO), where he championed stronger continental standards and cooperation.

He also played a leading role in the formation of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) in 2005, a major regional integration effort that ultimately enabled power interconnection with Ethiopia—realising a vision that required years of technical planning and diplomatic coordination.

Lessons from Crisis

Reflecting on the 2000 power-rationing crisis, Eng. Riungu recalled the strain of managing electricity distribution under severe shortages. He said the experience strengthened his conviction about the necessity of long-term planning and adequate generation capacity.

A Call for Renewed National Commitment

Expressing gratitude for the award, Eng. Riungu said he was deeply humbled by the recognition and reaffirmed that energy—especially reliable electricity—is the backbone of Kenya’s economic growth and social well-being.

He urged policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to prioritise sustainable energy development and maintain consistent policy frameworks.

“If we do not prioritize energy today,” he cautioned, “we risk repeating the crises of the past. Kenya’s future depends on the strength, stability, and resilience of our energy sector.”

The honour marks a significant milestone in a career that continues to influence Kenya’s energy discourse and its long-term development trajectory.