New 132kV Sondu-Ndhiwa Transmission Line Energized to Stabilize South Nyanza Power Grid

The South Nyanza region has reached a primary infrastructure milestone following the formal energization of the 132kV Sondu-Ndhiwa-Homa Bay-Awendo transmission line. This development, confirmed by officials in early February 2026, establishes a direct link between power generation sources at Sondu and the load centers in Homa Bay County, addressing decades of electricity instability in Western Kenya.

For years, electricity supply to Ndhiwa and Homa Bay was routed from Kisumu through Muhoroni and Chemosit. This circuitous path exceeded 200 kilometers, leading to significant technical losses and frequent voltage drops. The new 69-kilometer single-circuit line effectively shortens the transmission distance by more than 130 kilometers. By providing a more direct route, the infrastructure reduces resistive losses and ensures that the voltage reaching the end consumer remains stable.

Data from the Ministry of Energy indicates that before this activation, the Muhoroni-Chemosit corridor operated under severe strain, often carrying loads of up to 68MW. This congestion frequently necessitated load management, or rotational power cuts, to maintain system integrity. Since the line went live, the Sondu plant has begun supplying 27MW directly to the Ndhiwa substation. This shift has reduced the load on the Muhoroni-Chemosit line to approximately 40MW, providing the necessary breathing room for the regional grid to function without forced interruptions.

The technical scope of the project included the construction of the transmission line itself, along with critical bay extensions at the Sondu and Sang'oro power stations. New substations were established to handle the increased capacity, which is estimated at an additional 70MW for the regional network. This added capacity is expected to support approximately 70,000 new household connections across Homa Bay and Migori counties, raising the regional electrification rate from roughly 40 percent to 55 percent.

Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, Dr. Raymond Omollo, noted that the project is a central component in the government's strategy to provide reliable and affordable electricity to rural communities. Beyond domestic use, the stabilized grid is positioned to facilitate the operations of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks. These hubs require consistent high-voltage power to attract investment in manufacturing and value addition, which has historically been hindered by the unreliability of the local grid.

The project was fully funded by the Government of Kenya at a contract value of approximately KSh 692.8 million. Work on the final phase of the transmission line and associated substations began under a 24-month contract cycle in May 2024. The successful integration of this line into the national grid provides essential redundancy. If one section of the Western Kenya grid requires maintenance or experiences a fault, electricity can now be rerouted through the Sondu-Ndhiwa path, preventing the widespread blackouts that previously affected the region.

Engineering teams from the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) and Kenya Power conducted the final commissioning tests to ensure the safe synchronization of the new line. The transition to the new supply route occurred without disruption to the existing network. Local businesses, particularly those in the hospitality and retail sectors in Ndhiwa and Homa Bay, are expected to see an immediate reduction in operational costs as the reliance on expensive diesel generators diminishes with the arrival of steady grid power.