Kisii County Plunged Into Total Darkness As Armed Gang Vandalises Main Power Station

• On Tuesday, May 7, armed criminals attacked the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) power station in Kegati, Kisii county
• Kenya Power Regional Manager Dan Obiero said the early morning attack left one security officer injured and equipment vandalised
• KPLC called for patience, saying the technical team was trying to restore power but warned it would take a long time.

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Kisii - The whole of Kisii County has been plunged into darkness following the destruction of the main power distribution line.

In a statement on Tuesday, May 7, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) said armed criminals attacked the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) power station in Kegati.

Citizen Digital reported that the gang vandalised critical equipment, causing a power outage across the entire county.

How long will it take to restore power in Kisii county?

Kenya Power Regional Manager Dan Obiero said the early morning attack also injured security guards.

“This is to notify you that last night criminals/vandals went to our main Kegati 33/11kv Substation and vandalised major equipment. This being our biggest and main substation, we have, therefore, lost power supply to the whole of Kisii County,” Obiero said.

KPLC said its technical team was on the site trying to restore power but warned it would take a long time.

“Our apologies, customers, and we ask for your patience during this sad and difficult moment,” KPLC added.

KPLC backup plan for frequent blackouts

Earlier, KPLC, in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, unveiled a backup National Control Centre to minimise power outages.

Kenya Power managing director Joseph Siror revealed that the facility was set up in the Coast region at a cost of KSh 50 million.

The facility aims to safeguard the electricity supply's security, providing an alternative despatch point in case the main control centre fails.

The backup facility gets electricity supply from various power generation sources and despatches it to various consumers across the country, based on cost and demand.

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Collage of KETRACO offices that were vandalised in Kisii county

Kisii County Plunged into Total Darkness as Armed Gang Vandalises Main

Kisii County in darkness after gangs attack main power station