President Ruto Commissions KSh 1.5 Billion Sondu-Homa Bay-Awendo Power Project

President Ruto traveled to Homa Bay County on Monday to commission the Sondu-Homa Bay-Awendo transmission line, a project that is now fully operational across the South Nyanza grid. The infrastructure consists of a 76km high-voltage line and associated substations, representing a KSh 1.5 billion investment by the government to stabilize electricity supply.

The project addresses a long-standing deficit in power capacity within the region. Before the completion of this 132kV line, the area relied on the Kisumu-Muhoroni corridor, which was frequently overloaded. While the older system had a rating of 81 MW, local demand often reached 120 MW, forcing the utility to shed approximately 20 MW during evening peak hours to maintain stability.

Construction of the new line has effectively shortened the transmission distance to Homa Bay and Ndhiwa from over 200km to just 69km. This reduction in distance is expected to lower technical power losses and improve the voltage profile for consumers in Homa Bay, Migori, and parts of Kericho County. 

The scope of the works included the establishment of a 132/33kV substation at Ndhiwa and significant extensions at the existing Awendo substation. These facilities allow for the direct evacuation of electricity from the Sondu Miriu and Sang’oro hydropower stations, providing a more resilient path for energy distribution.

According to technical reports from the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company, the line has been undergoing energization and testing phases since early 2026. The successful switch-on has already resulted in a more stable start to the year for local industries, with households in Ndhiwa and surrounding areas reporting fewer interruptions during peak demand periods.

During the commissioning ceremony, President Ruto emphasized that the infrastructure is a critical component of the national grid. The locals are expected to benefit from the increased reliability, which supports the operations of new facilities such as fish cooling plants and agricultural processing units within the lakeside region.

The project was implemented over a 24-month period and was fully financed by the Government of Kenya. It forms part of a broader infrastructure tour of Nyanza, which includes the inspection of road networks and the groundbreaking of various housing projects aimed at enhancing the regional economy.