Kenya experienced its second major power outage in a week on Friday, with electricity restored to 70% of customers by late afternoon, according to national distributor Kenya Power and Energy Minister Opiyo Wandayi.
The blackout, which affected several regions of East Africa’s biggest economy, was caused by a series of technical failures in the power grid. Wandayi explained in a statement that a transmission line tripped at a substation, followed by a second trip on the Ethiopia-Kenya high voltage transmission line.
“The loss of 488MW, accounting for 27.3% of the total generation, resulted in cascade failure and a partial collapse of the grid,” Wandayi said. He acknowledged long-standing infrastructure issues, stating, “What we are witnessing today has built up over time and is a result of sub-optimal investment in infrastructure.”
This outage follows another hours-long blackout on Aug. 30. Kenya has suffered a series of power cuts over the last year, including one that plunged Nairobi’s main airport into darkness.
The recurring nature of these blackouts highlights ongoing challenges in Kenya’s power sector, raising concerns about the country’s energy security and the need for infrastructure improvements.
