By Mohamed Adan Khalif
The ongoing power outages in Mandera Town have reached a critical level. The extreme heat wave, especially during this month of Ramadan, has made the situation even more unbearable.
As your Governor, I have actively engaged the relevant stakeholders in various forums, visited the relevant ministry, and held discussions with the company responsible for power supply in Mandera town.
While generator breakdowns are inevitable, Kenya Power (KPLC) should have implemented adequate contingency measures to handle such failures.
Given Mandera’s distance from Nairobi and the condition of our roads, proper planning should have been prioritised. Unfortunately, KPLC has failed the people of Mandera, and this is unacceptable.
Current Status:
1.Kenya Power operates five generators at the Mandera station with a total capacity of 3.1 MW. However, three are non-functional, and Car and General have been contracted to repair them. The two operational generators currently supply only 900 KW instead of the expected 1.3 MW.
2.KPLC contracted a supplier to provide two additional generators to bridge the gap, with a combined expected output of 1.5 MW. However, one generator is not functioning, and the other supplies only 700 KW to the feeder line.
3.Mandera Town requires 4.5 MW, yet only 1.6 MW is available. Some customers experience power outages lasting up to 48 hours.
This situation is dire, and we demand that KPLC take immediate action to resolve it. It is unacceptable for our people to endure such hardship, including queuing for ice cubes outside Belad Hawa.
Statement on the Power Situation in Mandera Town.
Dear Esteemed Residents,
The ongoing power outages in Mandera Town have reached a critical level. The extreme heat wave, especially during this month of Ramadan, has made the situation even more unbearable.
As your Governor, I…
— H.E Mohamed Adan Khalif (@MohamedAKhalif) March 4, 2025
Despite repeated engagements with KPLC, their responses remain nothing more than empty promises. We will not relent in pushing for a lasting solution to this crisis.
The Writer is the Governor of Mandera County.
