Upgrade project to reinforce power supply in Mombasa

Electricity customers in Mombasa will enjoy improved delivery of services from Kenya Power following two days of intensified reinforcing of the power distribution network. The work was carried out yesterday and today under the Boresha Umeme programme which the Company has undertaken in several parts of the country.

Speaking on behalf of the Company, the General Manager in charge of Regional Operations, Eng. Peter Mwicigi, said that the two-day Shs. 37 million project will reduce supply interruptions and enhance quality of the power in Mombasa.

Eng. Mwicigi said the national wide operation has been carried out in 21 different towns since June this year, whereby particular sections of the network that need to be strengthened are identified and resources from neighbouring operational zones are converge to carry out thorough and extensive maintenance and upgrade in two, three or four days.

Eng. Mwicigi added that there has been reduced number of outages and improved quality of service in areas that have benefited from the programme.

The two-day programme in Mombasa involved more than 300 technical staff working intensively on areas surrounding Kenya Pipeline Co. Ltd., Moi International Airport, Kenya Petroleum Refineries Ltd., Athi River Mining, Mariakani Military Barracks, Cable and Plastics Ltd., Mega Garments Industries K. Ltd., Dola Feeds, Kensalt Ltd., Ashton Apparel Ltd., Bomu Hospital, Corrugated Sheets Ltd., Tarmal Steel, Steel Makers Ltd., Iron Africa, Bamba Hospital, and Mariakani Hospital.

The upgrade of the distribution network will enhance capacity of the lines to connect additional customers as the economy grows. The Company targets to increase electricity access rate to 75 per cent of Kenyans in the next 4 years from the current 32 - 35%.

Currently, the company is on a drive to connect 1 million more customers during the current financial year. The Company connected 443,000 new customers during the last financial year ending in June 2014. There is also an initiative to woo more industrial and commercial investors to come and set up shop in Kenya to consume the new generation.