Standing at the edge of the Menengai Caldera on the cold morning of October 24, 2024, I watched excitedly yet pensively as the first rays of the sun illuminated the sprawling green geothermal pipes in Menengai.

This was a momentous day, not only for the country but also for me and GDC. I was set to brief H.E. President William Ruto on how the steam field control room at Menengai worked.

The day before, I had been informed by the Ag. Manager of Corporate Communication, I would be the one to brief the President. While I had delivered similar presentations before, this one was different – addressing the Head of State was an entirely different ball game. At that moment, I was both excited and nervous, never imagining I would one day find myself in such a situation.

Don’t worry, Kachumo,” I consoled myself, “just pay attention to the bigger picture and trust that you’re well-prepared.” But then, the reality couldn’t just be wished away. The meticulous preparations required added to the weight of the moment. The day before, a contingent from the Presidential state function team had been deployed to the site to ensure that everything was smooth. We had been instructed to detail how to receive the President with utmost professionalism and respect. The dress code. For instance, we were told not to wear jeans, no pocketing, no shouting, no extending hand to the head of state unless he offers, etc. Every moment of the day seemed elaborately thought through with nothing left to chance.

It was soon time for my presentation, and there was no turning back. Standing before H.E. the President, I felt the weight of this opportunity and responsibility settle on me. The topic wasn’t simple: the integration of the Menengai geothermal Steam Gathering System with power plants.

“Your Excellency…,” I started, a bit nervous. “…the data displayed on the screen illustrates the boundaries between GDC and the Independent Power Producers (IPPs)…”

I noticed the President nodding thoughtfully, signaling his engagement with the topic.

I went on. At this stage, I had gained full composure. Besides, the president was warm and friendly and interested in what I was explaining. So I continued.

“To provide you with a clearer understanding of how the system operates, I will use the Sosian power plant as an example. Sosian is synchronized to the national grid. Under the Steam Sale Agreement, they are contracted to generate 35 MW, but they are currently generating a net output of 38 MW, which is transmitted to the national grid.”

I went on to explain how the integrated system works at Menengai. Then, at the end, the president interjected.

President: When I visit next time, will we see the same setup for Globeleq and OrPower 22?

Me: Yes, Your Excellency.

President: Alright, thank you

I could not believe I was hearing those words from the President. Those words sounded so good coming from him. This was a career highlight, and I couldn’t help but think of how far I had come from my roots in Baringo, to the point of standing before the President of Kenya, explaining one of the country’s most important energy projects.

Soon, time was up. The President and the guests had to leave. There was more work to be done. Presiding over the groundbreaking for the Orpower 22 power plant. It was four minutes of eternal joy and pensiveness.

Least did I know, my moment with the president was being shared with the outer world in real time via social media. It was not long before my phone started to buzz incessantly. I received countless calls. Everyone was happy, surprised, and excited. Everyone was congratulating me. It was a real big deal indeed.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Geothermal Development Company