Editor's Review

"Despite repeated engagements with KPLC, their responses remain nothing more than empty promises."

Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif has called out Kenya Power for failing to address persisted power outages in Mandera Town which has subjected residents to extreme hardship.

In a statement on Tuesday, March 4, the governor expressed concern over the deteriorating power situation, especially during the ongoing Ramadan period, which has been marked by extreme heat. 

"The ongoing power outages in Mandera Town have reached a critical level. The extreme heat wave, especially during this month of Ramadan, has made the situation even more unbearable.

"As your Governor, I have actively engaged the relevant stakeholders in various forums, visited the relevant ministry, and held discussions with the company responsible for power supply in Mandera town," he said.

According to Khalif, Mandera Town requires 4.5 MW of power, but only 1.6 MW is currently available, leaving many residents without electricity. 

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He criticized KPLC for failing to implement contingency measures despite frequent generator breakdowns.

"While generator breakdowns are inevitable, Kenya Power (KPLC) should have implemented adequate contingency measures to handle such failures.

"Given Mandera’s distance from Nairobi and the condition of our roads, proper planning should have been prioritised. Unfortunately, KPLC has failed the people of Mandera, and this is unacceptable," he added.

File image of Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif

Khalif explained that the town’s electricity supply relies on five generators operated by KPLC, but three are non-functional. 

He mentioned that Car and General have been contracted to repair them, but delays have worsened the crisis as the two operational generators produce only 900 KW instead of the expected 1.3 MW.

Khalif also said KPLC contracted a supplier to provide two additional generators to help bridge the gap, but only one is operational, supplying just 700 KW to the feeder line.

He noted that with temperatures soaring, businesses and households are struggling to cope, with some residents forced to queue for ice cubes.

"This situation is dire, and we demand that KPLC take immediate action to resolve it. It is unacceptable for our people to endure such hardship, including queuing for ice cubes outside Belad Hawa.

"Despite repeated engagements with KPLC, their responses remain nothing more than empty promises. We will not relent in pushing for a lasting solution to this crisis," he concluded.