This paper argues that legal loopholes and policy gaps in Kenya’s energy sector present a lucrative ground for exploitation by cartels. It discusses contextual issues and regulatory weaknesses around optimising Kenya’s energy resources. It points out the challenges to enhanced uptake by potential rural customers. These are associated with the high cost arising from issues of governance and accountability. It concludes that development and implementation of progressive, competitive and transparent energy policies remain the most viable avenue to the delivery of affordable and reliable energy.