On September 23, 2024, residents of Nairobi, Nyeri, and Murang’a counties experienced significant power outages, part of a scheduled maintenance initiative by Kenya Power. The outages, aimed at improving the electrical infrastructure, are set to affect thousands of households and businesses, particularly in sectors that rely heavily on refrigeration, such as the food industry.
Business owners, especially those dealing with perishable goods, have been urged to take precautions, such as using backup generators or adjusting working hours. These power interruptions, while necessary for maintaining and upgrading the electrical grid, come at a time when Kenya is grappling with rising energy demands due to urbanization and industrial growth.
The outages have sparked debate over the reliability of Kenya’s power supply, with consumers calling for improved planning and communication from Kenya Power to minimize disruptions. The utility company, however, emphasized that such maintenance work is critical to ensure long-term stability and reduce the risk of unplanned outages in the future. Despite the short-term inconvenience, the planned upgrades are expected to enhance power reliability, which is vital for economic growth and development
