Counties

Kenya Power Explains Tuesday Blackout That Plunged Multiple Regions Into Darkness

Kenya Power and Lighting Company has released an official statement explaining a significant electrical outage that left multiple regions without power on Tuesday evening, affecting operations across several counties.

ALSO READ: Mike Sonko Launches New Political Party, Sets Sights on 2027 Elections

The utility provider confirmed that a technical disruption occurred on its regional Kenya-Uganda interconnected power network at approximately 7:15 p.m., triggering widespread service interruptions across various parts of the country.

Affected Regions and Timeline

The disturbance on the main transmission line resulted in power loss across the North Rift, portions of Western Kenya, South Nyanza, and Central Rift regions. Major urban centers impacted by the outage included Eldoret, Nandi, Kitale, Nakuru, and Naivasha, along with specific Nairobi neighborhoods such as Ridgeways and Kasarani.

According to the company’s statement issued Tuesday, December 9, restoration efforts proved successful in most affected areas within roughly half an hour of the initial incident. However, Eldoret and several neighboring communities continued experiencing service disruptions beyond that timeframe.

Company Response and Customer Communication

Kenya Power addressed customers still experiencing outages, requesting continued patience as technical teams work to restore full service. “Eldoret and some surrounding areas remain without supply, and our teams are working to restore power as quickly as possible,” the company stated.

The utility provider issued an apology to affected customers, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the unexpected service interruption. “We apologise to our customers in the affected areas for the inconvenience and truly appreciate your patience,” the statement concluded.

Public Reaction and Social Media Response

The outage, which reportedly affected more than 32 counties, prompted considerable reaction on social media platforms as the blackout extended through the evening hours. Numerous residents and business owners expressed frustration online, seeking explanations for the sudden power loss that disrupted commercial activities and domestic routines.

The widespread nature of the disruption highlighted the interconnected vulnerability of the national power grid when major transmission lines experience technical difficulties.

Context of Ongoing Power Challenges

Tuesday’s incident occurs against the backdrop of acknowledged power supply challenges facing the nation. In early November, President William Ruto publicly confirmed that deliberate power rationing has been implemented in certain areas during peak evening hours, specifically between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Speaking from Doha, Qatar, on November 5, the president explained that Kenya Power has been compelled to implement strategic power cuts in select regions as the country contends with insufficient generation capacity. He characterized the rationing measures as necessary interventions to maintain stability across the national electrical grid.

President Ruto further disclosed that addressing the country’s power infrastructure deficits would require substantial investment, estimating approximately Ksh1 trillion in funding to expand national capacity to around 5,000 megawatts.

Infrastructure Investment Needs

The president’s November statements underscored the significant gap between current power generation capabilities and the demands of Kenya’s growing population and expanding economy. The required trillion-shilling investment represents a major financial undertaking that would necessitate both public sector commitment and potentially private sector partnership.

Energy sector analysts have noted that while Kenya has made progress in renewable energy development, particularly in geothermal and wind power, the pace of capacity expansion has not kept pace with demand growth in urban centers and industrial zones.

Looking Ahead

While Kenya Power has not provided specific technical details about what caused Tuesday evening’s transmission line disturbance, the incident reinforces ongoing concerns about grid reliability and the need for infrastructure modernization.

The company has committed to providing updates as restoration efforts continue in Eldoret and surrounding communities that remain without power. Customers in affected areas have been advised to monitor official Kenya Power communication channels for restoration timelines and any additional information regarding the outage.

The utility provider’s response time in restoring service to most affected regions within 30 minutes demonstrates the capacity of technical teams to address grid disturbances, though the persistence of outages in specific areas indicates the complexity of certain transmission infrastructure repairs.