Listed utility firm Kenya Power is investing KSh 1 billion to construct power lines in eleven counties across the Nyanza and Western regions.
- The funds will be allocated towards different power projects in Kisumu, Homabay, Migori, Siaya, Nyamira, Vihiga, Busia, Bomet, Kericho, Kisii and Kakamega counties.
- According to Kenya Power Managing Director, Joseph Siror, the completed projects include the KSh 700 million Narok to Bomet 132kV line to improve power reliability in South Nyanza and Western regions.
- The company was also constructing the Kibos to Miwani to Ahero and the Kisian to Luanda 33kV, both costing KSh 189 million, projects to support the power capacity in Kisumu South.
“Our purpose is to supply adequate and reliable electricity to positively transform lives, as well as support trade and manufacturing which play a crucial role in our country’s social-economic development,” Siror said during the Nyanza International Investment Conference held in Kisumu.
He noted that KETRACO was constructing a 132kV power line between Ndhiwa substation to ThurDibuoro. The project is set to be completed by June this year, relieving the Muhoroni-Chemosit power line – which has been subject to frequent overloads and a cause for persistent outages.
The investment comes in the wake of the country’s aging power infrastructure and botched PPP deals that were meant to upgrade power lines to handle rising electricity demand. According to EPRA, the challenge caused a 21% rise in power outages in 2023/2024.
Kenya Power has decided to step up its investment in transmission infrastructure owing to the exemplary financial results it has posted in the last two announcements. In the period between July and December last year, the utility firm made KSh 9.97 billion in net profit compared to KSh 319 million in a similar period in 2023.
