Power restored after nationwide blackout, internet disruption

Kenya power technicians install a transformer in Mbeere North, Embu County. [File, Standard]

Kenya Power has announced that electricity has been fully restored across the country, following a widespread blackout.  

"We are pleased to report that the power supply has been restored to all affected areas following the outage," the power company said in a statement on Wednesday morning. 

The blackout occurred shortly after midnight, disrupting power across the country, except in the Western and North Rift regions. 

Full restoration was achieved by 7:55 a.m., though Kenya Power did not disclose the cause of the outage.  

The incident sparked frustration among Kenyans, many of whom took to social media to express their concerns.  

One user on X, @KevinFult, commented: "Would I be lying if I said that KPLC has had so many nationwide blackouts since this regime came to power?"  

Another user, @EdgarWabwire, speculated: "Opiyo Wandayi appears to be taking a page out of Kipchumba Murkomen's playbook on sabotage. How else do you explain a nationwide power outage without any prior communication from KPLC? Could this be a calculated ploy to pave the way for another Adani deal?"  

Kenya has experienced a series of blackouts in the last year, including one that plunged Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) into darkness. 

This latest outage mirrors a similar incident in  September when parts of the country remained without power for most of the night.  

At the time, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi attributed the blackout to a transmission line trip at a substation, worsened by a secondary trip on the Ethiopia-Kenya high-voltage line.  

The Ministry of Energy has cited overloaded transmission lines as a key factor in nationwide outages. 

Before his removal, former Energy CS Davis Chirchir announced government approval for a new transmission line project. His successor, Wandayi, later confirmed a proposal by Adani Energy Solutions to develop critical transmission lines and substations, targeting completion by 2026–2027. 

However, President William Ruto canceled the deal.  

As power outages persist, public debate on the reliability of Kenya Power and the government's commitment to addressing energy sector challenges continues to intensify. 

Kenyans are now demanding lasting solutions to improve the country's power infrastructure.