Govt fixes issue behind nationwide power outages
By Lutta Njomo, September 27, 2025The Ministry of Energy has announced a significant intervention that would see an issue which plunged the nation into a total blackout in the past avoided.
In a statement issued by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) on Saturday, September 27, 2025, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi oversaw the successful commissioning of the Grid Restoration Project on the Loiyangalani–Suswa 400 kV Double Circuit Transmission Line at KETRACO’s 220 kV Suswa Substation.
The project will help address the issue of frequent nationwide power blackouts that have been attributed to the temporary bypass at the Lake Turkana Wind Power.
According to KETRACO, the new grid will help stabilise the national grid.
“This achievement will help move power from the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) plant, stop the frequent power outages caused by the temporary bypass, and restore the N-1 contingency, making the national grid more stable and reliable,” KETRACO’s statement read in part.
In September 2024, the country was hit by a series of outages. Explaining the cause, CS Wandayi attributed it to a trip in the Loiyangalani transmission line as well as a similar one on the Ethiopia – Kenya interconnector, which affected the grid.
“Today, Friday 6th September 2024 at 8.56 am, the 220kV High Voltage Loiyangalani transmission line tripped at Suswa substation while evacuating 288MW from Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) plant,” Wandayi explained.
“This was followed by a trip on the Ethiopia – Kenya 500kV DC interconnector that was then carrying 200MW, resulting in a total loss of 488MW. The total demand in the system at the time was 1790 MW. The loss of 488MW, accounting for 27.3 per cent of the total generation, resulted in cascade failure and partial collapse of the grid.”
Lauds new project
Speaking after commissioning the project, the CS confirmed that the enhanced evacuation capacity will be able to transmit up to 300 MW from the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) plant and provide more stable, affordable, and clean energy for the country.
He added that this improved reliability in power supply will boost investor confidence and assure consumers of consistent access to electricity, which is critical for economic growth and industrial development.
KETRACO Acting Managing Director echoed Wandayi’s sentiments, stating that the energisation of both circuits will ensure N-1 contingency, a critical feature that enhances grid reliability by reducing the risk of outages and improving overall system security, while the completion of permanent structures will significantly reduce maintenance expenses that were previously incurred on temporary bypass solutions.