Kenya Power Suspends Electricity in Six Counties for Maintenance.

More than six counties are facing power outages today following Kenya Power’s announcement of planned interruptions in electricity supply for scheduled maintenance. The counties affected include Kericho, Bomet, Nyamira, Kisii, Migori, and Homa Bay, all located in the Rift Valley and Nyanza regions.

Kenya Power explained that the move is part of ongoing efforts to improve the reliability of power supply in the affected areas. The outages are scheduled to last from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. impacting businesses and households in the region for a total of nine hours.

Highlights:

Power outages to last from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Kericho, Bomet, Nyamira, Kisii, Migori, and Homa Bay.
Maintenance is aimed at improving supply reliability, says Kenya Power.
Key areas impacted include Kisii Town, Kabianga University, and tea factories in Kericho.
Recent national power outages linked to issues at the Suswa Transmission Line in Narok County.

Areas Affected by the Power Outage

In a statement, Kenya Power emphasized that the power cut is essential for carrying out vital maintenance that will enhance supply efficiency. Notable areas affected include the entire Kisii Town and Kabianga University, both of which are crucial hubs for education and commerce. Additionally, several tea processing factories in Kericho County, such as James Finlays and Chelal Tea Factory, are expected to experience downtime, disrupting business operations.

The interruption will also affect key towns like Homabay Town, Migori Town, and areas along the Kenya-Tanzania border, including Kehancha and Isebania. The outage is expected to significantly impact business operations in these regions, particularly for industries reliant on electricity for daily operations.

Kenya Power’s Commitment to Maintenance

Kenya Power reiterated that these interruptions are a necessary part of ongoing infrastructure maintenance aimed at ensuring more consistent and reliable electricity supply in the future. “To facilitate this important exercise, power supply will be interrupted in the mentioned areas from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m,” the company stated.

The move comes in response to increasing concerns over power reliability in the country, particularly in rural areas that depend heavily on Kenya Power’s services. The affected regions are primarily rural, with industries such as tea processing and agricultural production expected to be the most disrupted by the outages.

Background: Recent Power Outages

This scheduled maintenance comes on the heels of nationwide power outages experienced in August and September, which affected various parts of the country. Kenya Power attributed those blackouts to technical faults along the national grid at the Suswa Transmission Line in Narok County. The outages led to widespread inconvenience and drew public criticism, prompting the company to step up its efforts to improve the reliability of power distribution through maintenance activities like today’s.

Kenya Power has faced increasing pressure from both the public and the government to modernize its infrastructure and reduce frequent outages that affect both households and businesses. President William Ruto recently urged Kenya Power to prioritize the needs of the country’s growing economy, stressing the importance of a stable power supply for fostering innovation and economic growth.