Residents from a number of Nairobi estates on Saturday, December 5, reported a power outage in their areas.
In a statement, Kenya Power explained that a technical fault affecting the Nairobi West substation had disrupted the supply of electricity to nine areas in the city.
Among the areas affected were South C, Lang'ata, Upper Hill, Ngong Road, parts of Kilimani, Hurlingham, Nairobi West Shopping Centre, Wilson Airport, Community and Ngumo.
The utility company explained that the outages were not scheduled and assured residents of working to resolve the situation.
"Our technical teams have identified the issue and are working to resolve it expeditiously. We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience," Kenya Power noted in a statement.
In recent weeks the debate of the switch to solar power has made headlines with the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has issued draft recommendations that will introduce strict rules that are expected to slow down the massive switch to solar energy.
EPRA stated that the Draft Energy (Solar Photovoltaic Systems) Regulations 2020 was raised to streamline the manufacture, importation, distribution, design, installation, testing, commissioning, maintenance and repair of solar systems in Kenya.
How to prepare for blackouts
Sudden blackouts can be hard to prepare for but in most cases, Kenya Power has scheduled power outages which can give residents time to adjust and plan themselves.
It is advisable for those whose areas have been announced to have a blackout to be prepared. Common measures to take include, charging your phone to full charge before the power is switched off and also have alternative charging methods for example a power bank.
When it comes to the food department, keep the freezer/fridge door closed for as long as possible to preserve freshness for longer. You may want to plan for food that may go bad; you can, for example, warm it prior and eat it before it goes bad.
Prepare for power surges by unplugging and switching off everything in your home during a blackout.
Also, have ready light sources, for example, flashlights, candles, and paraffin lamps on stand by in case the blackout lasts into the night.
