Davis Chirchir: We know the problem of frequent national power outages, we’re working on it

Nairobi, Kenya The Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Davis Chirchir has blamed the national power outages on overloaded transmission lines in the country.

This comes as various parts of the country were left in the dark yesterday following a widespread power outage, causing outrage from Kenyans regarding frequent power blackouts in the country. 

Addressing the press in Nairobi, Chirchir said,

“To put it in simple terms, for example, Western Kenya needs 200 megawatts, yet the transmission means can say only carry 100 megawatts. When the system tries to draw more power to support the 200 megawatts, the transmission gives way because it cannot carry that capacity.”

He added,

“That is why we are building alternative roads through Narok to relieve the transmission constraint. We have built Olkaria-Narok already, Chemosit-Bomet, and the link between Narok and Bomet, so completing the link all way down to Awendo. That way, we will not have the problem of network dropping often.”

The transmission line menace

Chirchir said the lack of investment in the transmission network is the cause of the power problem Kenya is experiencing.

He explained that the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) is responsible for power transmission. It is fully funded by the government and the financial constraints in the government affect investment in improving transmission networks in the country.

 “Despite unbundling power generation in the country into generation done by KenGen and private-public partnerships, transmission by KETRACO and KPLC on distribution, Ketraco is funded by the government. Funding by the government is constrained, causing limited investment in the transmission network,” he said.

To address the issue, Chirchir explained that the government is looking into private-public partnerships (PPPs) to help in building some of the transmission networks in the country to relieve KETRACO’s dependence on the government.

Power generation

On power generation, Chirchir stated that Masinga Dam has not been operational due to low water levels caused by inadequate rainfall and the country has been relying on power from Kamburu, Gitaru, Kindaruma, and Kiambere.

Even with the El Nino rains in the country, he added,

“We have not generated from Masinga despite heavy rainfall coz maybe of flooding.

Kenyans have had to deal with nationwide blackouts on several occasions this year, causing inconveniences for many households and losses for people in business.