An act of vandalism caused the collapse of a transmission tower along the Naivasha-Juja 132kV double-circuit line, disrupting electricity supply through the Ruaraka Substation.
Kenya Power said the incident occurred at approximately 3 am, affecting electricity supply to customers served through the substation.
The utility company said its teams moved quickly to restore power by using alternative substations.
“Our teams immediately rerouted power through alternative substations, restoring supply to all affected customers by 4.30 am,” Kenya Power said in a statement.
The company said items recovered at the scene suggested that the vandals were at the site when the tower collapsed.
“Items recovered at the scene indicate that the vandals were present when the tower collapsed,” the company said.
Kenya Power said its security team and police had launched investigations into the incident as repair works got underway.
“Our security team and the police are investigating the incident, while our transmission and Airmobile teams have commenced restoration works,” it said.
The incident has renewed concerns over vandalism targeting critical electricity infrastructure, with Kenya Power warning that such acts pose a threat to public safety while also causing disruptions and financial losses.
“We condemn acts of vandalism targeting electricity infrastructure, which threaten public safety, disrupt electricity supply and result in substantial financial losses,” Kenya Power said.
The company said vandalism of its infrastructure had increased sharply in recent months, with incidents rising by 200 per cent over the last three months.
The company has previously warned that damage to transmission lines, transformers and other electricity infrastructure can lead to prolonged power interruptions and impose significant costs on the utility as it replaces or repairs damaged equipment.
The latest incident comes as Kenya Power continues to strengthen security around critical infrastructure and work with law enforcement agencies to curb vandalism and theft.
The company urged the public to report suspicious activities around electricity infrastructure, warning that interference with transmission equipment could endanger lives and affect electricity supply to large numbers of customers.
The Naivasha-Juja transmission line is part of the network used to transmit electricity to various parts of the country, making incidents affecting its infrastructure a potential risk to power reliability.
