NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) will on Thursday energize the 132kV Sondu–Homa Bay Transmission Line, completing a key electricity infrastructure project aimed at stabilizing power supply in Homa Bay County and the wider South Nyanza region.
The final construction phase of the project lasted about seven months, according to the state-owned utility.
KETRACO said the new transmission line will reduce power outages, improve voltage stability, and provide an alternative supply route to strengthen grid reliability across the Lake Region.
“This milestone will unlock economic growth, support industry, enhance service delivery, and improve the quality of life for households and businesses across the Lake Region,” the company said in a statement.
South Nyanza has faced persistent electricity challenges, with fluctuating supply disrupting businesses, public institutions, and domestic consumers. The new line is expected to address these constraints by increasing transmission capacity and resilience.
The development comes barely a month after KETRACO energized the 400/220kV Mariakani Substation on December 23, 2025, a major upgrade to Kenya’s electricity transmission network at the Coast.
The Mariakani facility now serves as a critical gateway linking the Coast region to Nairobi and the national grid. It reinforces the Nairobi–Mombasa Transmission Line, which is designed to carry more than 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity between the two regions.
The reinforced corridor has eased pressure on the Coast’s power network and reduced dependence on costly diesel-powered generators, which had long been used to manage supply instability.
KETRACO Acting Managing Director Eng. Kipkemoi Kibias said the project would significantly improve energy reliability while lowering power costs.
“With this development, the Coast will significantly reduce its reliance on expensive and polluting diesel power, especially during peak evening hours,” Kibias said.
“Cleaner, reliable, and stable energy will now flow more efficiently, lowering costs and stabilizing supply.”
The Mariakani Substation forms part of the second phase of the Mombasa–Nairobi Transmission Line Project and plays a strategic role in strengthening Kenya’s national grid and the regional interconnected power system.
KETRACO is mandated to plan, design, construct, own, operate, and maintain Kenya’s high-voltage electricity transmission grid, as well as regional power interconnectors that support cross-border electricity trade.
