LODWAR, Kenya – Lodwar town and its surrounding areas are set for a historic connection to Kenya’s national electricity grid through two Kenya Power projects valued at Sh1.01 billion.
The projects, funded by the Government of Kenya, involve the construction of a 66/11kV Lodwar substation and a 90-kilometre 66kV transmission line between Lokichar and Lodwar.
Kenya Power says the projects are nearing completion and will, for the first time since independence, connect Lodwar, the commercial hub of Turkana County, to the national grid.
More than 80,000 residents to benefit
Once completed, the grid connection is expected to provide stable, reliable and cleaner electricity to more than 80,000 residents.
The power will support homes, schools, hospitals and businesses while creating capacity for future electricity demand as Lodwar continues to expand.
“This is one of those projects which we hold very dear to us,” Kenya Power Managing Director and CEO Dr (Eng.) Joseph Siror said.
Siror said Lodwar residents have historically depended on generators, which have struggled to operate continuously in the county’s high temperatures.
“Since independence, the people of this area and this county have depended on generators, which are not very effective, especially in this area, where the temperatures are quite high, and running the machines on a 24-hour non-stop basis leads to breakdowns,” he said.
He said connecting Lodwar to the national grid would provide residents with more stable electricity to support their livelihoods.
Kenya Power spends Sh900m annually on generators
Lodwar and its environs currently rely on diesel-powered generators operated by Kenya Power at an estimated annual cost of Sh900 million.
The generators have struggled to keep up with demand, with the extreme temperatures contributing to frequent breakdowns and power rationing.
Kenya Power said the new grid connection will significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels while eliminating associated emissions.
Siror said the cost of constructing the power line and substation is comparable to the company’s annual expenditure on diesel fuel for the generators.
“The cost of extending the power line from Lokichar to Lodwar, is almost the same as what we are currently using to fuel the generators in a year,” he said.
“Once these projects are complete, we are looking at a situation where what we are saving just in terms of diesel costs for a year is equivalent to the cost of building the line and the substation,” he added.
Grid connection expected to boost Turkana economy
Beyond improving electricity reliability, the project is expected to support economic activity across Turkana County.
Kenya Power said reliable electricity could catalyse growth in livestock trade, tourism, agribusiness and mining, while creating new employment opportunities for residents.
The improved supply is also expected to support ICT hubs and small and medium-sized enterprises operating in Lodwar.
Hospitals, schools to benefit
The project is also expected to deliver social benefits to residents.
With more reliable electricity, Kenya Power said students could study for longer hours, while hospitals and clinics would have improved capacity to store vaccines and other temperature-sensitive medical supplies.
The company said the connection would mark a major shift for Lodwar, replacing costly and unreliable diesel generation with electricity supplied through the national grid.
