Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has outlined the government’s strategic measures to tackle the recurring power outages in Kenya, which he attributes to sub-optimal investment in energy infrastructure. His remarks come after a significant power outage on Friday that affected a large part of the country, highlighting the pressing need for both immediate and long-term solutions.
In a statement, Wandayi acknowledged the extensive power disruption, explaining that it was caused by the tripping of the 220kV High Voltage Loiyangalani transmission line at the Suswa substation. This line was crucial for evacuating 288MW from the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) plant. The outage was exacerbated by a subsequent trip on the Ethiopia – Kenya 500kV DC interconnector, which was then carrying 200MW. Combined, these failures resulted in a total loss of 488MW—27.3 percent of the total power generation at the time—causing a cascade failure and partial collapse of the national grid. Notably, the total demand in the system at the time was 1,790 MW.
“The loss of 488MW resulted in a cascade failure and partial collapse of the grid, affecting most regions of the country except parts of Western Kenya, which was supported by supply through the interconnector to Tororo, Uganda,” Wandayi explained. Restoration efforts commenced immediately, with power supply normalized in parts of North Rift, Central Rift, Nairobi, and Mt Kenya regions by 11:30 am. Major towns and cities, including Nyeri, Embu, Kirinyaga, Nanyuki, Nakuru, Naivasha, Thika, Eldoret, Kericho, Kakamega, Siaya, Busia, Vihiga, Kisumu, Bungoma, and Webuye, saw a return of power. Kenya Power reported that 70 percent of the affected areas had their electricity restored by Friday morning.
To address the underlying issues that lead to such outages, Wandayi stated that the ministry is looking into both short-term and long-term interventions, including greater involvement from the private sector to supplement government efforts. A key initiative is the lifting of the moratorium on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) imposed by the National Assembly, which is seen as a critical step in boosting energy investment and infrastructure development.
Furthermore, the ministry plans to fast-track the implementation of baseload generation projects, focusing on hydro and geothermal power, which are crucial for improving energy security and ensuring adequate spinning reserves. Enhancing the grid’s flexibility and resilience is also a priority, with several key projects slated for completion. These include the Turkwell-Ortum-Kitale, Sondu-Ndhiwa, Nanyuki-Isiolo, and Narok-Bomet lines, as well as the completion of the Mariakani substation, the repair of the Loiyangalani-Suswa transmission line for double circuit operation, and the migration from 220kV to 400kV operation.
Additional planned projects include the completion of a ground electrode for HVDC for bipolar operation, upgrades at the Lessos substation, and the installation of Static Synchronous Compensators (STATCOM) for voltage regulation at Suswa and Rabai substations. The government is also set to fast-track the construction of alternative evacuation lines to enhance power transmission and distribution capacity.
The new lines—Gilgil-Thika-Malaa-Konza 400kV, aimed at completing the Nairobi Ring to decongest the Suswa Complex; Rongai-Keringet-Chemosit to decongest the Kisumu-Muhoroni-Chemosit corridor; and Menengai-Olkalao-Rumuruti to provide geothermal power access to the Mt Kenya region—are all part of the government’s broader strategy to ensure a reliable and robust power supply.
“As a ministry, we are committed to implementing these interventions to ensure the security of supply and a more reliable quality of service to Kenyans,” Wandayi affirmed, emphasizing the government’s dedication to enhancing the country’s energy infrastructure.
With these measures, the government aims to prevent future outages and ensure a stable power supply, thereby supporting economic growth and improving the quality of life for all Kenyans.
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