At the heart of Sub-saharan Africa’s 2nd largest wind farm, the task of harnessing one of the world’s most powerful wind resources is monumental. Since its commissioning, Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) has dispatched over 10.5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy to Kenya’s national grid, a feat of engineering that powers millions of homes and businesses.
Steering the technical operations of this flagship plant is Chief Technical Officer (CTO) John Chege, an engineer whose career path has been as transformative as the energy he now helps generate.
His journey from the traditional world of oil and gas to the forefront of renewable energy is a story of foresight, adaptation, and an unwavering commitment to engineering excellence.
The spark of an Engineer
Long before he was managing complex power systems, John’s path was being shaped in his family home in Murang’a County. A deep curiosity for how things worked led him to become the family’s unofficial deconstructionist.
“I often got confronted by my parents for dismantling and reassembling electronics at our family home over the weekends and during school holidays,” he recalls. “This was my ignition key to pursue and excel in science-related subjects in primary and high school.”
This innate passion naturally led him to a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of Nairobi. He began his career in 2010 at an engineering consulting firm, designing and supervising electrical installations for major petroleum companies like Shell and Total. His expertise soon took him upstream, into the demanding world of oil and gas drilling in Turkana, Kenya, and Mtwara, Tanzania. With five years’ of experience, he was on a specialized track to become a directional driller—a lucrative and highly sought-after role.
But in 2014, during a training class in Melun, France, a single strategic communication from his employer changed the trajectory of his career forever.
“They spoke about depleting oil resources and the need to conserve the environment and find alternative sources of energy,” John explains. “This communication triggered my decision that training as a driller was not certain or guaranteed for the future.” The message was clear: the world was changing, and he needed to change with it.
From fossil fuels to a greener future
Returning to Kenya, John continued his work in the Tullow oil fields, but with a new perspective. He began researching sustainable energy, developing a keen interest in solar, hydrogen, and electric vehicles. His moment of transition arrived when the oil and gas client faced financial constraints, leading to operational scale-backs and layoffs.
It was then that he learned of a massive wind farm being set up in Marsabit County. Though he had no prior detailed knowledge of the wind sector, he saw an opportunity to align his career with his newfound vision. In April 2016, he was recruited as a site resident electrical engineer, supervising the construction of the substation, STATCOMs, and overhead lines.
“When I joined LTWP at the construction phase, I was marvelled by the extent of construction works required to make the project a success,” he says. “The workload and tight project focus then blinded me from having an overall operational picture of what this construction marvel would mean to the Kenyan economy.”
His initial role was with the project management team, but his performance and dedication did not go unnoticed. When the construction phase ended in late 2017, LTWP hired him directly as one of the pioneer maintenance engineers, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey of growth within the company. Over the next nine years, LTWP’s investment in his potential saw him rise through the ranks: from Maintenance Engineer to Maintenance Supervisor, Head of Projects, Deputy CTO, and finally, to his current role as Chief Technical Officer.
The people behind the power
When asked about the secret to maintaining LTWP’s position as Kenya’s largest single power source, with an exceptional availability of 98.11% in 2025, John’s answer is simple and direct: “The people.”
“The success story for LTWP as a sustainable and leading wind farm in such a remote location depends purely on the motivation and support you get from the employees and key stakeholders,” he affirms. “My main goal is to take care of the people, and in turn, they take care of the business.”
This philosophy is crucial, given the immense challenges of operating in Marsabit. The remote location brings significant operational costs, poor road conditions, security concerns, and long lead times for spare parts. To counter this, John has championed a culture of self-reliance.
“Over the years, we have learned to self-perform all major activities,” he notes. “This is achieved through rigorous training of the technical team to handle specialized jobs like transformer testing, STATCOM maintenance, air conditioning maintenance, overhead line construction, power dispatch and fiber optic splicing among others. We have cultivated these skills within a lean and highly motivated team.”
This approach extends to managing crucial partnerships, such as the long-term service contract with Vestas. John’s philosophy is one of collaboration. “The metrics and deliverables are clear,” he says, “but a good working relationship and open communication ensure transparency and support whenever possible to ensure overall organizational goals are optimally attained.”
Leadership in action
Leading by example is a principle John lives by. His typical day starts with a deep dive into reports, dashboards, and power forecasts, giving him a clear view of the business’s focus areas. He then engages with his team, clearly communicating the context and expected deliverables.
“I focus on the result and continuous improvement rather than micromanaging the process,” he states, “as individuals have different and ingenious ways of working to deliver the same result.”
This trust in his team is matched by a proactive approach to stakeholder engagement. He shares an example from April 2025, where he personally initiated an exchange program with KETRACO and KPLC, fostering personal interactions that proved invaluable. “The network created in personal interactions with these networks supported easy data acquisition for system studies, supporting excellent delivery of my KPI.”
A vision for a greener Africa
Reflecting on LTWP’s staggering achievements—dispatching over 10.5 billion kWh of energy, mitigating over 4 million tonnes of CO2, and saving Kenyan consumers over KSh 180 billion—John is most proud of the environmental impact. “I love and cherish the environment,” he says. “The impact on conserving the environment by reducing CO2 and other greenhouse gases for future generations resonates well with my existence.”
Looking ahead, he sees an immense future for wind and other renewables, particularly with advancements in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to smooth out intermittency. He envisions LTWP pioneering this future.
“LTWP is a pioneer wind farm in the region,” he asserts. “With a proven wind resource, LTWP will look into a future expansion—a more compact, high-output wind farm that will drive the overall cost to the consumer and CO2 levels downwards. It will also serve as a solid training ground for resources that will support the wind sector in the region.”
For aspiring engineers looking to make a similar impact, his advice is straightforward: “Determination, the right attitude, and delivering results are key attributes.” He adds a final, powerful thought on career growth: “Individual commitment and patience are important traits at the workplace. Do not force your promotions. Deliver results, and the rest will come your way.”
It is this ethos—focused, patient, and results-driven—that defines John Chege’s leadership and continues to power not only Africa’s largest wind farm but also a brighter, greener future for Kenya.
