Kenya power blames fire for recent power outages

By Njiraini Muchira

NAIROBI, KENYA, Nov. 22 - Businesses in Industrial Area are suffering massive loses after a Kenya Power substation caught fire three weeks ago, forcing the company to resort to rationing.

Several enterprises in Lunga Lunga, part of Industrial Area, have been complaining that Kenya Power has been slow in repairing the problem and saving them from further loses.

“We are incurring major loses due to the inconsistent power supply to a point whereby we have been forced to scale down on production,” said one enterprise along Serem Road, an area that is worst hit by the power outages.

Kenya Power spokesman Migwi Theuri admitted a fire broke out in one of its substations in Industrial Area three weeks ago, and repay works are in progress.

The fire occurred at a 66kV sub-station and is suspected to have been started by vandals.   He said the company was forced resort to the rationing program because the areas affected are now being serviced by one transformer instead of the usual two.

Undertake repairs

“We put out a rationing schedule to ensure everybody in the area gets power as we undertake repairs and put up another transformer,” said Theuri.

Kenya Power says they plan to finish the repairs this weekend and normal power supply should resume by Monday next week.

The delay in restoring normal electricity supply has forced some enterprises to contemplate laying off employees to arrest further loses.