President William Ruto officially commissioned the 400/220 kV Mariakani Substation in Kilifi County today, on Monday, May 25, 2026, as a key development in the development of Kenya’s electricity transmission backbone, which will enhance the reliability of electricity in the coastal region.

Speaking during the event in Kilifi County, the head of state has said that the country will no longer depend on borrowed money to build transmission lines but will rather depend on public-private partnerships as well as the national infrastructure bond.

“I want the board chair and the chair to understand that we are not going to be borrowing money to build transmission lines anymore; we are going to build transmission lines on a PPP. So forget about looking for Money. There will be no approval for any loan. These are commercially viable projects. We have the national infrastructure fund, and we have the willing charge as an optic mechanism,” Ruto said.

The Mariakani substation has been implemented by Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRAIN) and is expected to greatly improve the stability of power supply, capacity and quality of supply to households, enterprises, hotels and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) along the coastal economic corridor.

By minimising the need for expensive diesel generators, particularly during periods of high demand, the new substation will help to reduce operational costs and enhance the competitiveness of industries.

The substation is also viewed as an important power node situated along the Nairobi–Mombasa transmission line, a vital connection between the coast and the national grid. It will reinforce the backbone of the 400kV transmission network and help to evacuate more than 1,000MW of power from Nairobi to Mombasa. This upgrade should relieve congestion on the coastal grid, increase system security, and minimise technical losses.

Mariakani substation funding

The substation was financed by the government of Kenya in collaboration with the African Development Bank and executed by China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd. under the supervision of KETRACO engineers.

The project is part of the Mombasa–Nairobi Transmission Line upgrade, which also involves the installation of complementary substations at Isinya and Rabai with a capacity to increase the transmission voltage from 220kV to 400kV.

The Mariakani substation is a crucial step in modernising Kenya’s national grid, ensuring energy security and energy efficiency, and making the Coast region a more attractive place to invest and to expand industry.