Fiona Magomere, Power System Control Engineer, Kenya Power & Lighting Company, is recognized as a 20 Under 40 Energy Women Rising Star for her work in championing sustainability and clean energy access in Kenya. Magomere strives to bridge the gap between policy, technology, and lived experience.
Please provide a brief overview of your journey in the energy industry that led to your current role? What are some key achievements or milestones that you are particularly proud of?
I began my career in the energy industry in 2015 as a Trainee Engineer at Kenya Power and Lighting Company Plc, Kenya’s national utility. After completing the one-year rotation, I set my sights on the National Control Centre (NCC). Out of over 120 trainee engineers, I was honored to be the sole candidate posted to NCC in 2017. Working as a Grid Control Engineer has been both demanding and deeply rewarding. One of my proudest achievements has been preventing national blackouts on numerous occasions, leveraging real-time decision-making and the technical insights I’ve gained over years of hands-on experience.
In 2023, I was selected as one of only seven participants from Kenya and one of 30 from sub-Saharan Africa to join Cohort 4 of the Renewable Energy Program by Life Academy Sweden, sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. As my understanding of energy systems deepened, so did my commitment to public engagement. I’ve made it my mission to demystify grid operations and make energy information accessible to the public. In 2024, I was honored with the Professional Technical Award by the African Queen of Energy Awards; a recognition that affirms the impact of my work and fuels my drive to keep pushing boundaries in the energy space.
The energy industry is known for its complexities. What were some significant challenges you faced along the way, and how did you navigate through them to achieve your goals?
Working in a male-dominated sector has presented real challenges: from witnessing qualified women being overlooked for leadership roles to experiencing gender-based discrimination myself, starting from as early as my college days. These experiences fueled my commitment to change the narrative. In 2020, I began mentoring young women in technical fields, helping them navigate workplace dynamics, build confidence, and find their voice. Through mentorship, I’ve not only shared my journey but also learned from others creating a space for growth, solidarity, and empowerment. I’ve also championed peer-to-peer mentorship, using personal branding as a tool to help colleagues position themselves for success within the energy sector.
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to excel in the energy sector? Are there any specific strategies or mindsets that helped you overcome obstacles and reach your current position?
To thrive in any field, especially one as technical and male-dominated as energy, one must commit to excellence and speak up when given the chance. And when the chance doesn’t come? Create it. Advocate for what matters to you, and stay curious; there’s always something to learn, even from those younger or less experienced. The best advice I’ve ever received is: “Opportunity favors the visible.” That’s where personal branding comes in. By consistently showing up as a subject matter expert in grid operations and grid-tied renewables, I’ve earned seats at panels alongside senior leaders in the energy sector not because of titles, but because I made my expertise visible and my voice heard.
A career in energy can be demanding. Could you describe a typical day in your life?
A typical day begins with the school run for my daughter, followed by either a 6-hour daytime shift or a 12-hour night shift at the grid control center. Regardless of the schedule, I carve out around 2 hours for personal development and squeeze in a 50-minute workout either early in the morning or late in the evening, depending on my shift.
Family time is non-negotiable. I dedicate at least one hour every evening to connect, unwind, and be present with my loved ones. On my off days, I pivot towards mentorship, advocacy for energy access and sustainability, networking, and travel. These moments allow me to pour into others while refueling my own sense of purpose. To maintain structure, I plan my days in advance and lean on to-do lists when things get hectic.
Looking ahead, what changes or advancements do you hope to see in the energy sector? How do you envision your role in shaping that future?
After a decade in the energy sector, I’ve seen firsthand the urgent need for strategic investments both in expanding grid coverage and in modernizing operations through automation. Real-time monitoring and outage response systems are no longer optional; they’re essential for building resilient, responsive power networks. Regional power pooling can strengthen our collective resilience, but first we must address foundational issues within individual grids. That means investing in capacity, governance, and cross-border collaboration.
For countries like Kenya, where renewables already form a significant share of the energy mix, integrating storage solutions such as pumped hydro and Battery Energy Storage Systems is critical. However, grid expansion alone is not enough. We must prioritize off-grid communities, ensuring that people in remote and underserved areas are not left behind. As a storyteller and advocate, I see energy not just as a technical challenge, but as a human one. My mission is to advance sustainability at the grassroots by amplifying the voices of those impacted, sharing knowledge, and driving innovation that reflects the realities of our communities.
