Kenya Power Reveals What Triggered Nationwide Blackout

Kenya Power on Saturday, March 4 issued a statement regarding the power outage that was reported in various parts of the country for the first time in 2023.

The monopoly firm noted that it managed to restore power supply to parts of Eldoret, Kisumu and Nakuru, with Nairobi residents also benefiting from the restored power supply.

While indicating that it was working on restoring normal power supply in other areas, Kenya Power added that the outage was a result of a fault affecting one of its high-voltage power transmission lines.

A Kenya Power employee carries out repairs on Haile Selassie Road, Mombasa. /DAILY NATION

"We are glad to report that we have restored power supply to parts of Eldoret, Kisumu and Nakuru. We are working to restore normalcy in other areas as soon as possible.

"Initial reports indicate that the outage was caused by a fault that occurred on the Suswa-Loyangalani high-voltage power transmission line. We thank our customers for their patience as we continue with the restoration exercise," stated the firm, adding that another update would be issued in due course.

Kenya Power had earlier attributed the nationwide electricity outage to system disturbance in its apology while promising to restore the power supply immediately.

At 6.25 pm, the outage occurred, plunging most parts of the country into darkness.

"We have lost bulk power supply to various parts of the country due to a system disturbance.

"We are working towards restoration within the shortest time possible. We apologise for the inconvenience caused," the power supply company stated.

Juja, Pangani, Parklands, Lang'ata, Kangundo Road and Rongai residents were among the customers who alerted Kenya Power of the outage as well as residents living along Thika Road.

In November 2022, the country experienced a power blackout affecting areas including Nairobi, Mombasa, Busia, Kakamega, Kiambu, Makueni, Nakuru, Nyandarua, Kilifi, Kajiado, Machakos, Garissa and Eldoret.

"We have restored power supply to customers in parts of Western, South Nyanza, North Rift, Central Rift and Nairobi.

"The cause of the system disturbance has been identified and is being addressed by KETRACO engineers, while our technical teams are working on the restoration of power supply to the rest of the country. We will communicate the progress of the restoration exercise in subsequent updates," stated the utility firm on November 24, 2022.

The utility provider had hours prior noted that the interruption in power supply was caused by mechanical problems on several lines feeding the estates. Among the feeders affected included the Breweries 1 line, which feeds several estates along the Thika Super Highway.

"Breweries 1 feeder line is off affecting Allsops, Babadogo, Qwetu apartments and adjacent Kamukunji -Muthurwa feeder line is off affecting Garissa Lodge Eastleigh, Starehe Boys, Gikomba and adjacent," the statement read in part.

Other streams affected include the Kibiku- Ngong Town, ACME - Kitusuru, Ridgeways - Cianda, Kamukunji - Muthurwa, Hurlingham-North West, Kibwezi-Kiboko, Dagoretti - Karen, Kiserian-Matasia and Kirigu -Dagoretti. Langata, Sunview, Cianda, Witeithie,  Ngong town, Windy Ridge, part of Ruaka, Ndenderu, Karura, Waithaka, Mutoine and Dururuma estates were also hit by the blackout.

Residents living around Nyara, Kihara, Kanunga, Kabubuti, Kituamba, Kibera, Kibiku, Kimuka, Oloolaiser,  Thogoto, Kirigu villages were expected to experience power interruptions. Neighbourhoods along Mbagathi way, the whole of Kiserian Dagoretti Market, along Dagoretti, Nandi, Kikuyu and Miotini roads were set to also go without power.