Wandayi: Why Nairobi experienced blackouts during March heavy rains

Nairobi experienced widespread power outages during the heavy rains recorded in March due to flooding at key substations and damage to electricity infrastructure caused by strong winds and falling trees, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has said.

Wandayi attributed the disruptions to stormwater overflow into critical substations located in areas where urban development has altered natural drainage systems.

“Due to the storms and strong winds during this time, trees growing near power lines fell on the lines, leading to damage of both high and low voltage power lines and transformers, thereby causing extensive outages,” the CS said on Wednesday when he appeared before the Senate.

He said several facilities were affected, including Nairobi West, Industrial Area, Ridgeways, Kimathi, and Syokimau substations, which supply electricity to high-demand zones such as South C, Lang’ata, Upper Hill, South B, Industrial Area, Jogoo Road, Ridgeways, Mlolongo, Mavoko, and Katani.

He further noted that the storms brought down trees onto power lines in parts of Dagoretti North, Lang’ata, Westlands, and Ngong, damaging both high- and low-voltage lines as well as transformers.

This compounded the outages, leaving multiple neighbourhoods without electricity during the period of severe weather.

Wandayi said the Ministry, working through the Kenya Power and Lighting Company and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), conducted assessments to determine the extent of the damage and vulnerabilities exposed by the flooding.

He warned that the threat posed by climate-related events to Kenya’s power infrastructure is increasing and cannot be ignored, pointing to the need for long-term structural interventions.

“The Ministry, through KPLC, did assess the effect of the floods and vulnerability of the Sub-stations. Indeed, the threat posed by floods on the power system is immense and cannot be just wished away,” he said.

Among the proposed mitigation measures are raising older substations above ground level to counter flooding risks, undergrounding sections of the power distribution network to reduce exposure to weather elements, and replacing wooden poles with concrete alternatives to enhance resilience.

Wandayi emphasised that these interventions aim to strengthen the stability of the national grid as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense.

He also cited ongoing electrification efforts in Kajiado County under the Last Mile Connectivity Programme, noting that Sh165.7 million has been allocated to support 53 electrification schemes targeting about 1,750 customers across new and maximisation projects.

The CS maintained that such investments are part of a broader strategy to expand access while improving the resilience of Kenya’s electricity infrastructure against climate-related disruptions.