NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) has completed restoration works on the Loiyangalani–Suswa 400kV transmission line, a key power corridor linking the Lake Turkana Wind Power plant to the national grid.
The KSh46 million project involved replacing six collapsed towers near Longonot with new permanent structures, as well as conductor stringing and Optical Ground Wire installations.
The works were carried out by Elemech Engineering Limited under a contract signed in November 2024.
Circuit 1 of the line was energized on September 20, with the second circuit set to be switched on tomorrow, restoring the line to full operational capacity.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said the project will improve the reliability of electricity supply and allow Kenya to maximize the evacuation of up to 300 MW from the Lake Turkana Wind Power plant.
“This project ensures stable, affordable, and clean energy, which is critical for economic growth and industrial development,” said Wandayi. “It directly supports the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda by guaranteeing reliable power for industries, SMEs, and households.”
KETRACO Acting Managing Director, Eng. Kipkemoi Kibias, noted that the restoration brings back N-1 contingency — a standard that allows the grid to withstand faults without major outages.
“With both circuits fully operational, the system’s resilience and efficiency are restored,” said Kibias. “Consumers will enjoy better reliability while we save on maintenance costs previously spent on temporary bypasses.”
The Loiyangalani–Suswa line, commissioned in 2018, is vital for integrating renewable energy into Kenya’s grid and for reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Its full restoration is expected to strengthen investor confidence in the energy sector while lowering the risk of nationwide blackouts.
