Kenya Power has announced an electricity outage in some 28 neighbourhoods in the lakeside city of Kisumu to allow for an upgrade expected to last for at least six hours.
In a statement released on Sunday, May 23, the electricity company disclosed that the blackout is expected to take effect on Monday, May 24, beginning 12:00 p.m. till 6:00 p.m.
Kenya Power explained that the outage was to allow for the upgrade of the Olkaria-Lessos-Kibos High Voltage Power line that connects the region.
The upgrade will also help stabilize the power supply to the Western Kenya region.
The regions affected have three hospitals and numerous companies including those run by the state.
"We wish to inform our customers that power supply will be interrupted in parts of Western Region on Monday, May 24, 2021, to enable construction works for the proposed Olkaria-Lessos-Kibos 400kV line being undertaken by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO).
"The power line will enhance power capacity, and improve the quality and reliability of supply in the region," read the statement in part.
The areas include Kisumu CBD, Industrial Area-Sabuni Road, Milimani, Kondele, Nyamasaria, Nyalenda, United Millers, Equator Bottlers Limited, Kenya Industrial Estates, Kenya Pipeline Corporation, Bandani, Kenya Breweries, Abyssinia Steel Mills and Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company (Kenya).
Others are Mambo Leo, Kanyakwar, Kisumu Specialists Hospital, Ukweli, Aga Khan Hospital, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Referal Hospital, Tom Mboya Estate, Dunga, Manyatta, Migosi, Lolwe, Kenya Re, Kibos and their adjacent customers.
Speaking in March, Energy CS Charles Keter noted that the current transmission line had aged with the new one facing challenges that saw it fail to meet the initial completion date of 2018.
Keter further noted that the Western Kenya region was the worst affected by the outages since Kenya Power had to turn off one line in order to fully supply the other.
The construction of the Olkaria – Lessos Kisumu project is being undertaken in three Lots; lots 1,2 and 3. Lot 1 involves the construction of the 229km 400kV double circuit transmission line from the Olkaria II substation to the Lessos substation.
The project is valued at Ksh16 billion.
