Engineer Edward Kinyua Confirmed as New EPRA Director General

Story by Violet Kerubo & Monyonge O’Kebati

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has confirmed Engineer Edward Kinyua as its new Director General following a competitive recruitment process.
Kinyua, a mechanical engineer with more than 16 years of experience in the energy and petroleum sector, has been serving as EPRA’s Director of Petroleum and Gas since 2019.
The announcement was made by EPRA Board Chair Mwambu Mabonga who said the recruitment process began nearly two months ago following an advertisement for the position.
Mabonga said the board conducted shortlisting and interviews before submitting the names of the top three candidates to the relevant authorities for concurrence.
She confirmed that the board had received the necessary concurrence to approve Kinyua’s appointment as the substantive Director General.
According to the board chair, Kinyua’s appointment represents an important milestone for the authority, particularly because he has risen through the ranks within the institution.
Kinyua joined EPRA in 2010 and has progressed from an officer-level position to senior management and eventually to the director level.

Mahonga urged the incoming Director General to work closely with EPRA staff, describing the authority’s employees as key assets to the organization and the country.
He called for teamwork and unity within the authority, saying collective effort would be critical in strengthening EPRA and improving its image.
The board chair also commended Engineer Daniel Okech for his leadership during the transition period when he served in an acting capacity.
Okech, who handed over the leadership of the authority to Kinyua, thanked the board and staff for supporting him during his tenure.
He described Kinyua as a colleague whom he had mepersonally mentored and worked with for many years.
Okech said the two had worked closely on several critical responsibilities, including the monthly fuel pump price reviews and announcements.
He expressed satisfaction that the recruitment process had resulted in an internal candidate taking over the leadership of the authority.
“From the time I took over, I have done my best, and I continue giving my best to the nation,” Okech said.
He subsequently handed over the instruments of office to Kinyua, marking the formal transition of leadership.
In his acceptance speech, Kinyua thanked the EPRA Board and the Cabinet Secretary responsible for energy for the confidence placed in him.
He acknowledged that he competed against other experienced professionals during the recruitment process and pledged to deliver on the responsibilities entrusted to him.
Kinyua said his leadership would focus on strengthening regulation of the energy and petroleum sectors, both technically and economically.
He said energy reliability and security would remain among his key priorities, particularly at a time when global energy security has become an increasingly important issue.
Kinyua also pointed to challenges facing Kenya’s electricity sector, including a deficit in generation, saying EPRA would continue working to ensure reliability and consumer protection.
He said the authority would work closely with senior management and other stakeholders to fulfill EPRA’s mandate of protecting consumers, investors and other players in the energy and petroleum sectors.
Among EPRA’s key responsibilities are regulating electricity tariffs and overseeing petroleum pricing.
Kinyua said he would work with the EPRA team to ensure that tariffs charged to consumers are prudent and that the authority continues to provide effective regulation of the sector.
He also highlighted EPRA’s monthly responsibility of announcing petroleum pump prices on the 14th of every month.
The new Director General said he would build on the work of his predecessor while maintaining close cooperation with the authority’s senior management and staff.
Kinyua further thanked Engineer Okech for his mentorship and leadership, noting that Okech had played an important role in his professional development since they first worked together at EPRA.
He said Okech had supported him until he attained professional engineering registration and later worked alongside him in senior management.
Kinyua pledged to continue working with Okech and the wider EPRA team as he assumes the leadership of the authority.
The transition marks a new chapter for EPRA, with Kinyua taking over after years of experience within the institution and a period of acting leadership under Okech.
The new Director General is expected to lead the authority in regulating Kenya’s energy and petroleum sectors, with a focus on energy security, consumer protection, prudent tariffs, petroleum pricing and the wider development of the sector.