Govt Unveils Ksh2.5B Power Link to End Blackouts in Mt Kenya

The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) has advanced civil works on key power infrastructure investments to address national grid vulnerabilities. Government officials recently inspected progress on high-voltage transmission projects designed to stabilize electricity supply across multiple regional networks.

Energy Ministry Principal Secretary Alex Wachira conducted a site evaluation of the Ksh2.5 billion transmission project serving Mt Kenya and northern areas. The infrastructure initiative targets long-standing network bottlenecks that frequently trigger localized blackouts during routine facility maintenance.

Under the main project scope, construction crews are installing 16.8 kilometres of 132 kilovolt (kV) double-circuit underground cable between Nanyuki and Rumuruti. This underground segment connects directly to approximately 70 kilometres of overhead transmission lines extending to the Rumuruti Substation.

Another critical link involves 4.2 kilometres of underground cabling laid between Nanyuki and Isiolo. That section interfaces with nearly 68 kilometres of overhead high-voltage transmission line running directly into the Isiolo Substation facility.

Funding for the regional grid expansion comes jointly from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Kenya. Construction work began in 2023, and technical teams plan to energise the line in distinct phases once system testing concludes.

Currently, electricity supply to the regional network depends on two main transmission corridors. One line runs from Masinga Dam through Karatina and Kutus to Nanyuki, while the second extends from Kamburu through Meru to Isiolo.

These existing supply paths operate without interconnecting transmission infrastructure. Consequently, scheduled maintenance or unexpected technical faults along either line leave downstream consumers without power, because no alternative diversion route exists on the grid.

Integrating the new transmission links establishes alternative power routing options across the network. If maintenance occurs along the Meru or Kutus corridors, control operators can shift electrical load to maintain continuous service to residential and commercial customers.

The upgrades aim to resolve persistent voltage fluctuations reported by industrial and domestic consumers in Nanyuki. Direct transmission from the Isiolo route will raise voltage stability and lower technical power losses across county boundaries.

Broader grid stability efforts also focus on the National System Control Centre (NSCC) civil works. KETRACO Acting Managing Director Kipkemoi Kibias inspected ongoing site civil construction to evaluate progress on the primary system dispatch facility.

The state energy sector has also awarded the Kabarnet-Rumuruti transmission line contract to add further capacity. Expanding transmission channels helps accommodate growing electricity demand, as more households join the national grid under state connectivity initiatives.

High-voltage transmission lines transport bulk electricity from generation plants to regional distribution substations. Strengthening this bulk transfer network reduces systemic operational failures and protects vulnerable electrical equipment from sudden load surges.

Regional administrators expect improved energy reliability to spur economic activity in Laikipia, Isiolo, and Samburu counties. Commercial enterprises in growing urban hubs like Rumuruti and Maralal require predictable power to expand operations and create local employment.

Technical teams must complete comprehensive high-voltage testing protocols before final commissioning of the new underground cables. Completed infrastructure segments will gradually enter active service, reinforcing the national grid against unforeseen supply disruptions.

The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum maintains that upgrading load management systems remains vital for national economic expansion. Modern dispatch centers and interconnected lines will ensure equitable distribution of power generated from renewable sources.