KILIFI, Kenya– Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) has officially energized the 400/220kV Mariakani Substation, a development set to deliver reliable and stable electricity to homes, businesses, hotels, and industries across Kenya’s Coastal region.
The move is expected to end years of power instability and reduce reliance on costly diesel generators.
The Mariakani Substation is a crucial power gateway linking the Coast to Nairobi’s national transmission grid. By reinforcing this connection at 400kV, KETRACO is unlocking stable electricity that will support industrial growth, attract investment, and improve the quality of life for millions of Kenyans.
The substation forms part of the Nairobi-Mombasa Transmission Line, which is designed to carry more than 1,000MW of electricity between the two regions and ease pressure on the Coast’s power network.
It is also a strategic component in strengthening Kenya’s national power transmission grid, which underpins the regional interconnected power system and supports the operational benefits of the 500kV Ethiopia–Kenya and 400kV Kenya–Tanzania interconnectors.
Speaking on the milestone, KETRACO Acting Managing Director Eng. Kipkemoi Kibias said, “With this development, the Coast will significantly reduce its reliance on expensive and polluting diesel power, especially during peak evening hours. Cleaner, reliable, and stable energy will now flow more efficiently, lowering costs and stabilizing supply.”
The Mariakani Substation will also play a key role in Kenya’s push toward 100pc clean energy by 2030, allowing geothermal power from Olkaria, wind power from the Lake Turkana Wind Plant, and hydroelectric power from Ethiopia to reach the Coast region.
Financing for the substation was provided through a partnership between the Government of Kenya and the African Development Bank (AfDB) at a total cost of Sh3 billion.
China CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd was the implementing contractor, supervised by KETRACO engineers. AfDB also leads financing for the transmission lines linking Mariakani to Nairobi and Rabai.
The energization of Mariakani completes the second phase of the Mombasa-Nairobi Transmission Line Project. Phase I, completed in 2017, included double-circuit lines from the 220kV Rabai Substation to 220kV Embakasi Substation near Nairobi’s ICD, at a cost of Sh17 billion.
Phase II involved the construction of the 400/220kV Mariakani and Isinya substations, upgrading line capacity between the two locations from 220kV to 400kV, at a cost of Sh7 billion.
With the completion of this project, the Coastal region will now access over 1,000MW of clean energy, reduced technical losses, improved power quality, and a more resilient electricity network.
