KenGen Picks Commercial Insider: Ronoh Kibet Charles to Succeed Peter Njenga as Chief Executive in 2027KenGen Picks Commercial Insider: Ronoh Kibet Charles to Succeed Peter Njenga as Chief Executive in 2027
Key Highlights
- KenGen has named its commercial services chief as the next managing director, handing him the utility's biggest strategic choices.
- Ronoh Kibet Charles takes over on 1 February 2027 after a competitive recruitment process and a planned handover period.
- He inherits rising peak demand, a petcoke power proposal and a push for Olkaria investors.
KenGen has named Ronoh Kibet Charles, its General Manager for Commercial Services, as its next Managing Director and Chief Executive from 1 February 2027, succeeding Eng. Peter Waweru Njenga, who is retiring.
KenGen said the appointment followed a competitive recruitment process and that a transition period will allow a smooth handover, according to its announcement on Saturday 24 October. The move puts a commercial executive in charge of Kenya's largest power producer, an NSE-listed company, as it looks beyond plain electricity generation.
A commercial and geothermal background
Kibet has more than 17 years of experience in geothermal development, project delivery and commercial strategy. His current brief covers energy markets, investments, new business, partnerships and sustainability.
He has helped expand KenGen's international consultancy services and develop the Olkaria Green Energy Park. He holds a bachelor's degree in telecommunication and information engineering and a master's in project management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and is a certified Project Management Professional.
What he inherits
Under Njenga, KenGen reported a profit after tax of KSh 10.48B ($80.68M) for the 2025 financial year and grew its geothermal consultancy work, including projects in Eswatini.
The in-tray is crowded. Mwenendo earlier reported on how Kenya is weighing 500MW from Dangote's Lamu refinery, where Kibet was quoted calling petcoke power a transitional measure while the long-term goal stays 100% green electricity. Peak demand rose from 2,241MW in September 2024 to 2,549MW in July 2026.
Investors and receivables
The utility is also courting capital. As Mwenendo reported, the company is hosting a Sustainable Energy Conference at Olkaria from 24 to 27 November aimed at more than 200 investors, and a Djibouti agency has put a first payment offer on the table for drilling invoices carried for five years.
The announcement did not name the board chair or give a handover timetable beyond the 1 February start date, and Njenga's exact retirement date was not stated.
In Summary
- Who is the new chief executive?
- Ronoh Kibet Charles, currently KenGen's General Manager for Commercial Services.
- What was announced?
- He was appointed Managing Director and CEO, succeeding the retiring Eng. Peter Waweru Njenga.
- When does he start?
- On 1 February 2027, after a transition period; the announcement came on 24 October 2026.
- Where is KenGen active?
- Kenya, mainly geothermal at Olkaria, plus consultancy projects abroad including Eswatini.
- Why does it matter?
- KenGen is Kenya's largest power producer; its next CEO faces rising demand, a petcoke power proposal and investor push.
- How was he chosen?
- Through a competitive recruitment process, according to KenGen.