The Chairperson of the IRB and Director General of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) of Kenya, Mr. Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, hosted a delegation from the World Bank for an engagement on the Bank’s upcoming Funding for the IRB, under the Regional Energy Transmission, Trade and Decarbonization (RETRADE EAST) Project.

The engagement specifically sought to align the IRB’s Focus areas identified for possible funding by the World Bank in the short to medium term, to enhance the IRB’s capacity to effectively regulate the Eastern Africa Power Market.

Mr. Kiptoo thanked the Bank for its Technical and Financial support to the Eastern Africa Regional Power agenda over the years, which has enabled the IRB reach critical milestones in pursuance of a Live Electricity Market in Eastern Africa.

Dr. Kabir Malik, Senior Energy Specialist at the World Bank, reaffirmed the Bank’s continued support towards the IRB and the EAPP, emphasizing the need for impact by the Projects funded.

The hybrid engagement held at the EPRA Offices in Nairobi – Kenya was attended by the World Bank Officials, Staff of EPRA, the IRB Secretariat, and Members of the IRB Technical Committees.  

In September, 2025, the World Bank had a similar engagement at the IRB Office in Kampala – Uganda, to identify priority activities under the IRB’s mandate for potential support by the World Bank, under its RETRADE EAST Project, for advancement of the Eastern Africa Power market.

From the engagement held in September 2025, critical areas including: Key Rules and Procedures on IRB’s operations; Monitoring and Surveillance of the Eastern Africa Electricity Market; development of Regional Regulatory Framework; Dispute Resolution; and Capacity Building were identified for possible funding by the World Bank.

The RETRADE EAST Project aims to establish a robust and scalable platform that assists countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa region in scaling up cross-border Electricity trade.

The funding provided by the World Bank to the IRB under this project is expected to bring the Eastern Africa Region much closer to a Live Electricity Market; advancing regional power trade, market integration, and regulatory cooperation across Eastern Africa