The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has blamed the recent power outage affecting some Kenyatta University students on an incident that occurred last week during the replacement of a transformer in the Kiwanja area, Roysambu.
In a statement issued on Monday, January 27, KPLC said that several of their staff were injured after being attacked by residents, who threw stones, assaulted them, and damaged their truck.
KPLC explained that a (200kVA) transformer serving the area failed late last year, and due to a lack of similar units in their stores, a temporary 315 kVA transformer was installed while a suitable replacement was sourced.
However, according to Kenya Power, the company staff who had been sent to swap the high-voltage transformer with the recommended lower-voltage one were met with violence by locals, forcing them to flee.
“As soon as the team commenced disconnection of the 315kVA transformer to facilitate the swap, locals confronted them by throwing stones and injuring a number of their employees and damaging the truck that had ferried the team and the new transformer to the site,” KPLC said in a statement.
The company went on to explain, “The truck's hydraulic system was damaged, wheels punctured, and the windscreen was smashed.”
“As a result, KPLC said that some of the staff were hospitalised while the truck had been moved to the workshop for repairs,” the statement read.
The company added that it is working closely with security agencies to address the situation in Kiwanja and restore power supply as soon as possible.
“The area is home to hostels and other residential buildings, including those housing students from Kenyatta University,” the statement noted.
Adding, “The company does not condone any form of violence against its staff.”
On Monday, Kenyatta University students blocked a section of the Thika Superhighway, causing a significant traffic snarlup to protest the power outage.
According to Adero Reagan, a Representative of Students Residing Outside Campus, the institution has experienced an outage for the past two weeks.
He stated that students will continue protesting until their demands are met. “For the last two weeks, we have not been having power. If this is the way they want us to go, then we will also move in this direction. We have decided that there is no business on Thika Highway until our demands are well restored,” Reagan asserted.
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