Kenya Power Tells Kenyans To Brace For Blackouts During Heavy Rains
This alert coincidentally comes months after Kenya Power Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joseph Siror explained how heavy rains cause the blackouts whose frequency has led to criticism of the firm by Kenyans from all walks of life.
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Kenyans across the country will likely encounter several spells of power blackouts during the heavy rains season if the latest warning by Kenya Power is anything to go by.
The monopoly firm on Tuesday, April 2 warned that heavy rains accompanied by strong winds have the potential to cause collapse of electricity poles during strong winds, flash floods as well as land or mudslides.
The blackouts may also be a result of breakage of power lines due to trees or branches falling on power lines as well as the damage to Kenya Power's distribution infrastructure through floods, and fallen power lines among others.
This alert coincidentally comes months after Kenya Power Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joseph Siror explained how heavy rains cause the blackouts whose frequency has led to criticism of the firm by Kenyans from all walks of life.
Kenya Power engineers at work on a transformer. /FILE
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on October 17, 2023, Siror explained that heavy rains for instance are likely to cause disturbances on power distribution lines, leading to short circuits.
In its purest form, water is an electrical insulator, meaning, it shouldn't be able to conduct electricity or allow current to flow through it. The danger lies with the components dissolved in water, specifically its ions.
Furthermore, short circuits may result from stormy rains swaying trees or power lines, bringing them into contact.
"When it rains heavily, it can cause trees to fall on the line, and it causes a short circuit, thereby causing a disturbance on the network," Siror explained.
"Sometimes rains are accompanied by strong winds which affect the conductors and cause a disturbance."
The CEO further noted that strong surface runoff water can also destabilise power poles during heavy rainfall.
Furthermore, Siror indicated that lightning plays a part in triggering short circuits as the power lines have no option but to accept the overwhelmingly excessive current which creates a massive spike, therefore creating a power surge.
Meanwhile, the latest alert comes in the wake of a heavy rainfall warning issued by the Kenya Meteorological Department covering most parts of the country, effective from today, Tuesday, April 2.
According to forecasts released on Monday, April 1, heavy downpours are expected to hit various regions, including Central and Western Kenya, Rift Valley, Southeast lowlands, Coast, Northeast, and Northwest between April 2 and April 8.
Authorities have advised citizens to brace themselves for potential flooding in these areas, with most parts of Kenya currently experiencing the onset of the long rain season, which typically spans from mid-March to May.
Residents in the affected areas have been urged to remain vigilant for potential floods, which may unexpectedly arise in areas where heavy rainfall has not been recorded.
Collage of floods along Nairobi Expressway and in Eastleigh on March 24, 2024. /LARRY MADOWO.ASMALI MEDIA
