RUMURUTI, Laikipia County, Oct 5 – The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) has energized the 86.4-kilometre, 132kV Nanyuki-Rumuruti transmission line, strengthening electricity supply and network resilience in Laikipia County and the wider Mount Kenya region.
The new link is expected to address a long-standing power supply constraint in Rumuruti, which has traditionally been served through a long 33kV distribution line from Lanet.
KETRACO said the transmission connection will shorten the distribution network serving Rumuruti by about 50 percent, helping reduce technical losses while improving the quality, efficiency and reliability of electricity supply.
The project comprises an 86.4-kilometre, 132kV single-circuit transmission line constructed on double-circuit towers, including about 16.8 kilometres of underground cable.
The underground section was adopted following operational and security concerns raised by the Kenya Defence Forces around Laikipia Airbase and was designed and approved in line with Kenya Civil Aviation Authority requirements.
The new infrastructure also provides additional transmission capacity to support economic activities in the region, including agro-processing, irrigation, flower farming, manufacturing and hospitality.
It will also improve network flexibility in serving Laikipia, Nyahururu and neighbouring areas.
The energization comes after KETRACO commissioned the 132kV Nanyuki-Isiolo transmission line, further strengthening the network serving Nanyuki, Isiolo, Meru, Laikipia and the wider Upper Eastern region.
KETRACO Managing Director Tom Imbo said the project would support investment and economic activity by improving access to reliable electricity.
“We are calling on small and medium-sized enterprises, industries and investors to come and invest in this region with greater confidence, because we are strengthening the power supply they need to grow,” Imbo said.
He said the improved connection would provide Laikipia, Nyahururu and the wider Mount Kenya region with a more reliable and resilient electricity supply to support farmers, businesses and industries to expand, create jobs and unlock new opportunities.
The project was jointly financed by the Government of Kenya, the African Development Bank and Exim Bank of India.
The underground cable works were undertaken by Dongfang Electric International Corporation and Qingdao Hanhe Cable Company Limited at a contract sum of $14.3 million.
The overhead transmission line works were initiated by Jyoti Structures Limited and completed by China CAMC Engineering Company Limited (CAMCE) at a contract sum of $4.58 million.
