Over the past decade, Kenya has seen a proliferation of international collaborations related to energy modelling. These partnerships are typically framed as technical assistance packages (modelling, training, and workshops) but also carry strategic and political aims. This brief outlines: How international collaborations influence energy planning in Kenya, Some dynamics around tool choice and scenario development and Issues around energy modelling capacity development. Kenya offers a particularly instructive case for examining how international modelling collaborations evolve, given its long history of external engagement alongside the institutionalisation of domestic planning processes such as the Least Cost Power Development Plan (LCPDP). Based on these insights, we identify practical lessons to improve future collaborations and build sustainable modelling capacity.