Nationwide Power Outage Plunges Kenya into Darkness

A sudden and widespread power outage plunged several parts of Kenya into darkness on Sunday evening, causing widespread inconvenience and frustration. The blackout, which began around 8 PM, affected areas including Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Bomet, Tana River, Nanyuki, Kakamega, Lamu, Murang’a, Nakuru, Makueni, Tharaka-Nithi, and Machakos Junction.

The outage extended to critical infrastructure, including the Kenya Power offices in Kisumu and Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) terminals, further amplifying the disruption.

Adding to the frustration, Kenya Power remained silent for over an hour, leaving residents and businesses in the dark both literally and figuratively. This lack of communication sparked outrage on social media, with many demanding answers and updates.

While Kenya Power had announced planned outages in three counties for Saturday, December 9th, from 9 AM to 5 PM, the nationwide blackout took many by surprise.

Finally, over an hour after the outage began, Kenya Power issued a brief statement acknowledging the problem and attributing it to a suspected fault affecting the power system. They assured customers that they were working to restore electricity and would provide updates soon.

As businesses and households struggle with the unexpected disruption, the incident highlights the vulnerability of Kenya’s power infrastructure. It also underscores the need for improved communication and transparency from Kenya Power during such events to better manage public expectations and minimize frustration.