The Kenya Power and lightening Company (KPLC) has announced scheduled power interruptions across five counties on Friday, September 26, as the electricy supplier continues to fix critical issues to ensure seamless supply, amidst a steady rise in power consumption, driven by industrial growth, infrastructure expansion, and increasing household connections.
In a notice, the company said the outages meant to allow for planned maintenance works will affect Nairobi, Kisumu, Vihiga, Homa Bay and Kilifi counties.
In Nairobi County, the outage will affect Mwihoko, including Kinyanjui Street, Starehe Boys, Ziwani Health Clinic, Ziwani, Kariokor Cemetery and adjacent customers.
In Vihiga County, the blackout will cover Chamakanga Secondary School and nearby areas.
These include Chamakanga Sec Sch, Mululu, Lunza, Chekombero, Kwa Shem, Sabatia Eye Hospital, Vokoli, Mudungu, Bugina, Wangulu, Wandega, Chatamilu, Gavudianyi, Gavudia, Nabwani and adjacent customers.
In Kisumu County, power supply will be interrupted in Apondo Kasare from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Areas set to be affected include Apondo Kasare, Thur Dibuoro, Nyakwere, Kongowo, KEMFRI, Sango Rota, Sangoro, Nyawalo and surrounding customers.
In Homa Bay County, parts of Ndhiwa will be without electricity during the maintenance exercise.
The affected areas are Ongeng, Rarage, Kobodo, Okok, Ramoya, Manywanda, Obera Sikwadhi, Lwanda Kawuor, Magina, Mirogi, Ndhiwa, Pala Koguta, Thuon Gweno, Rapendhi, Bongu, Nguku, Otange, Riat, Amoyo, Oridi and nearby customers.
In Kilifi County, customers in Malindi and Muyeye will experience outages affecting Malindi, Muyeye, Muyeye Dispensary, High School and surrounding areas.
Additional interruptions will hit parts of Kanamai and Mtwapa, including Kwa Mwalimu Omar, Ogalis, Aljazeera Estate, Mzuri I, Greenwood, KMA, Ashut Plastics, Ashton EPZ, CBL, Mvita Oils, Majengo Kanamai, Indomie, Majengo Mapya, Bokoboko and Sumak Engineering.
Kikambala Housing, Bomani Dispensary, North Coast Medical, Mwembestungu, Petrocity Sokoni, Mtwapa Market, Mzuri Millers, Ndonya, Fuhuhua EPZ, Kanamai Retreat, Rise & Shine, Makio Hall and surrounding customers will also be affected.
Meanwhile, the planned maintainance, comes as Kenya’s electricity generation set a new record in August as demand from households, industries, and businesses surged.
Electricity consumption surges, pushing Kenya’s grid to record levels.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) reported that locally generated and purchased power reached 1,291.39 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), the highest ever in the nation’s history.
This marked an increase from July’s 1,284.28 million kWh, reflecting the country’s growing energy needs.
Earlier in the year, Kenya Power recorded historic sales of 1,090.88 million kWh in June, while the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicated that sales first exceeded 1,000 million kWh in May.
The trend has prompted major producers, including the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), to boost output to keep pace with consumption.
A rise in industrial activity alongside the expansion of household connections has intensified pressure on the national grid. Sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and transport have scaled up operations, leading to higher electricity use.
In addition, programmes to extend electricity to rural areas and last-mile connections have further increased demand.
Kenya continues to rely heavily on renewable energy, with geothermal and hydropower plants leading production, supported by wind and solar energy.
Despite this, the rapid rise in consumption has lowered the reserve margin of the system’s backup capacity to just four per cent, leaving the grid more prone to interruptions.
To cope, the country has imported additional power from Ethiopia, though Kenya Power has warned that the low reserve margin could trigger electricity rationing.
Peak electricity demand, the highest load recorded on the grid annually, has been steadily rising.
It reached 2,177 MW in the year ending June 2024, up from 2,149 MW the previous year, and from 1,926 MW five years ago. The daily evening peak typically occurs between 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm, placing extra stress on the system.
In the first half of last year, KenGen accounted for 59.94 per cent of the 7,717.61 GWh produced, followed by imports at 10.48 per cent, Lake Turkana Wind Power at 10.24 per cent, and Orpower at 5.78 per cent.
