Editor's Review

Kenya Power has announced that parts of Nairobi County will experience a scheduled power outage on Saturday.

Kenya Power has announced that parts of Nairobi County will experience a scheduled power outage on Saturday, October 11.

In a notice on Friday, October 10, the company said the planned outage will affect customers in the Embakasi area between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. 

Kenya Power explained that the interruption is part of maintenance works to ensure reliability and stability of power supply in the region.

The affected areas include CITAM Embakasi, KSD Business Park, Emirates Business Park, Skyline Estate, Kenya Airways Pride Center and Naivas Supermarket Embakasi.

Quickmart Supermarket Embakasi, Cabro Kenya Ltd, Kirinyaga Construction Company, KEMSA, and adjacent customers will also be affected.

Elsewhere, this comes weeks after Kenya Power’s security unit and law enforcement officers arrested two individuals suspected of dealing in stolen electricity infrastructure in the Manyatta Kona Maji, Kisumu County.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 23, the company said the suspects, identified as Stephen Bala Magak and Frederick Odhiambo Owino, are alleged to have been in possession of equipment stolen from vandals before reselling it to people involved in illegal electricity connections.

File image of Kenya Power technicians

According to Kenya Power, security officers recovered equipment worth an estimated Ksh3 million during the operation.

Among the items seized were six steady bars, one cross arm (channel), three rolls of stay wire measuring about 100 metres, 146 shackle insulators, 20 metres of HT aluminium conductors, 23 rolls of LV aluminium conductors totaling 1,000 metres, two rolls of 150mm HT aluminium conductors and 87 stay plates.

Other recovered items include 56 KPLC danger plates, 38 nine-inch bolts, seven metres of three-phase cable, 100 metres of 10mm twisted service cable, 70 bolts measuring 3¼ inches, 30 metres of soft drawn conductors, 49 D-Irons, 18 surge diverters, and 11 rolls of 16mm service cables totaling 2,397 metres.

"The two suspects are already in custody, and this operation is a testament to our commitment to weed out all the persons who are involved in illegal activities within the network. We call upon members of the public to work with us in reporting and safeguarding the same infrastructure that powers their businesses and lives," said Kenya Power’s Security Services Manager, Maj. (Rtd) Geoffrey Kigen.

He further noted, "The Western Region and Kisumu County has been experiencing power issues, some stemming from vandalism and in some instances, illegal connections. Through a coordinated security operation between Kenya Power and Kisumu Central Sub-County Police, we have managed to recover a huge catch of our equipment valued at approximately KShs.3 million. We thank the law enforcers for the support they have given us in our fight against criminal activities that compromise the stability of power supply and endanger lives."