Fire at Kakamega Substation Triggers Power Blackout in Five Counties

Fire at Kakamega Substation Triggers Power Blackout in Five Counties

KAKAMEGA, Kenya – Thousands of homes and businesses across western Kenya were plunged into darkness on Friday evening after a fire broke out at the Musaga Substation in Kakamega, disrupting electricity supply in five counties.

The incident affected customers in Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Siaya and parts of Vihiga, according to Kenya Power, as engineers moved to contain the situation and restore electricity.

The power outage disrupted normal activities in affected areas, with households, businesses and other electricity-dependent operations forced to cope with the unexpected blackout.

Kenya Power confirmed the incident in a customer alert issued on Friday, August 7, saying the fire at the substation was responsible for the widespread power interruption.

“A fire incident at Musaga Substation in Kakamega has resulted in a widespread power outage affecting our customers in Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Siaya and parts of Vihiga counties,” Kenya Power said.

The utility company said its technical teams had been deployed to address the incident and begin restoring electricity to affected customers.

Rather than wait for repairs at the affected substation to be completed, Kenya Power said it was using alternative supply lines to reconnect customers where possible.

“We are re-routing power through alternative supply lines to restore electricity to customers progressively as the incident at the substation is addressed,” the company added.

The alternative supply arrangement is expected to allow electricity restoration in phases, depending on the availability and capacity of the lines being used.

Kenya Power did not immediately provide details on what caused the fire, the extent of damage to the Musaga Substation or whether any workers were injured in the incident.

The utility also did not give a specific timeline for the complete restoration of electricity across all affected areas.

Five Counties Affected

The outage affected a wide section of western Kenya because of the strategic role played by the Musaga Substation in electricity distribution.

Kakamega County was among the areas affected, with the interruption also extending to neighbouring Bungoma, Busia and Siaya counties. Parts of Vihiga were also affected by the blackout.

The disruption came at a time when many businesses rely heavily on electricity to operate, particularly supermarkets, shops, restaurants, hospitals, communication facilities and manufacturing establishments.

Households were also affected as residents faced interruptions to lighting, charging of electronic devices, internet connectivity and other essential services dependent on electricity.

Businesses operating in the affected counties could also face losses if the outage continues for an extended period, particularly those handling perishable goods or relying on electrically powered equipment.

Engineers Work to Restore Power

Kenya Power said restoration efforts would continue as technical teams worked on the affected infrastructure.

The decision to reroute electricity through alternative supply lines is aimed at reducing the impact of the substation fire while engineers address the underlying problem.

Customers in the affected counties have been urged to exercise patience as restoration takes place progressively.

The incident also highlights the importance of electricity substations in maintaining reliable power supply across different parts of the country. Damage to a major facility can quickly affect several counties when alternative supply capacity is limited.

Kenya Power is expected to provide further updates as restoration efforts continue and more information becomes available on the cause and extent of the fire.

For residents and businesses affected by the blackout, the immediate priority remains the restoration of normal electricity supply.

The company has assured customers that its teams are working to reconnect affected areas while addressing the incident at the Musaga Substation.

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Fire at Kakamega Substation Triggers Power Blackout in Five Counties