The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has announced a planned power interruption in parts of Kisumu County this weekend as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the reliability and safety of the national grid.

In a statement issued on Friday, August 22, 2025, the utility firm said the scheduled outage will take place on Saturday, August 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It will affect residents in Rosa Garden, Koru Bible, Kandege, Kipsamwe, Center, Ushirika Market, and surrounding areas.

Planned maintenance exercise

According to KPLC, the exercise is part of routine maintenance aimed at upgrading sections of the electricity network. The company urged customers to prepare for the outage by making arrangements such as charging essential devices and securing perishable food items.

“These maintenance activities are critical to ensuring a stable and safe electricity supply for our customers. We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate the understanding of the affected communities,” the company said.

The utility, which serves more than 9.6 million customers across the country, has emphasised that such planned interruptions are necessary to minimise unexpected power failures and improve service delivery.

Kenya Power’s scheduled maintenance on Friday, August 22, 2025, left several regions across the country without electricity, affecting both households and businesses at a time when the nation is hosting the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The outage, announced via the utility’s official X handle on Thursday evening, was set for 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM and disrupted services for an estimated 9.6 million customers.

In Nairobi, areas including Lower Kabete, New Kitisuru, Githawa Secondary & Market, and Lower Kabete Road experienced the blackout. In Narok, the affected zones were Meva, Mogoon, and Karara, while Busia County faced outages in Igulu Shop, Shishe Village, and Malakha.

Balancing upgrades with stability

The Kisumu maintenance comes as the company faces heightened scrutiny over its ability to provide consistent electricity. For many households and businesses, reliable power remains a pressing concern, particularly in regions that depend heavily on electricity for trade and domestic use.

KPLC says the Kisumu exercise reflects its commitment to improving infrastructure nationwide, with more planned maintenance works expected in the coming months as it continues to balance upgrades with minimising disruptions.