Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has issued a notice announcing planned power interruptions across several areas in six counties on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. The scheduled maintenance work, aimed at upgrading and improving the electricity supply network, will begin at 9 AM and may last for up to nine hours in some affected areas.
Scheduled Maintenance: Improving Power Supply Efficiency
In a statement released by KPLC, the company explained that these power outages are necessary to carry out maintenance work such as upgrading power lines, connecting new customers, and replacing infrastructure damaged during road construction. These periodic maintenance exercises are crucial for improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the power supply to customers.
“The electricity supply will be interrupted as necessary to facilitate maintenance and upgrades of power lines to the network, to connect new customers, or to replace power lines during road construction,” Kenya Power stated.
The maintenance efforts are part of the company’s ongoing commitment to improving electricity distribution across the country, ensuring a more stable and efficient power supply for the future.
Affected Areas in Six Counties
The following counties will be affected by the scheduled power interruptions:
- Nairobi County
- Areas affected: Ruaraka (9 AM to 5 PM), Kasarani Stadium, Regional Centre of Mapping, Safaricom Data Centre, and surrounding areas.
- Langata and Karen (9 AM to 5 PM), including places such as St. Thomas Seminary, Magadi Rd, Catholic University, Langata Barracks, and many others.
- Kibera (9 AM to 5 PM), including Soweto Academy, Olympic Estate, Makina, and adjacent areas.
- Nyeri County
- Areas affected: Sagana State Lodge, Iruri Market, Kiganjo Fisheries, Karandi Market, and others (9 AM to 5 PM).
- Muthinga, Gichira, Kaigonde, and other surrounding villages (9 AM to 5 PM).
- Embu County
- Areas affected: Embu College, Kanjuru Estate, and parts of Shauri Market (9 AM to 4 PM).
- Kiambu County
- Areas affected: Kiganjo Road, Motomo, Banana Market, Karuri Market, and surrounding areas (9 AM to 5 PM).
- Mombasa County
- Areas affected: Tudor (9 AM to 5 PM), including the Technical University of Mombasa, Tudor Sub County Hospital, and other locations.
- Kwale County
- Areas affected: Galu Kinindo (9 AM to 5 PM), including Lantana Galu, Diani Beach Park, and others.
The Importance of Scheduled Power Interruptions
While power outages can cause inconvenience to residents and businesses, they are essential for the long-term improvement of the power grid. KPLC has assured customers that these interruptions are temporary and are part of their ongoing efforts to enhance service delivery. The company encourages all affected customers to plan accordingly and take necessary precautions to mitigate the impact of these outages.
Public Response and Student Protests
Meanwhile, recent power outages have sparked protests from students at Kenyatta University (KU), where power had been out for an extended period. On January 27, KU students took to the Thika Superhighway, blocking roads and lighting fires to express their frustration over the prolonged power cut at their hostels. Glen Karani, the President of the KU Students Association, criticized the lack of action from authorities, despite their ultimatum for the restoration of electricity.
Kenya Power’s scheduled maintenance work on January 28 is an important part of their broader strategy to address power disruptions, but the protests highlight the challenges that can arise when power outages disrupt daily life, especially in educational institutions.
While the planned power cuts on January 28, 2025, are necessary for improving the infrastructure of Kenya’s electricity network, they also underscore the importance of regular communication between utility providers and the public. Kenya Power continues to work on enhancing service delivery, and customers are urged to stay informed and make arrangements for the temporary outages.
