Nairobi — The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) has successfully energized the 220/66 kilovolt (kV) Kimuka Substation transmission line, providing stable and reliable electricity to residents in Kimuka and surrounding areas.
The power transmitter says that this alleviates the strain on existing infrastructure by transferring load from Nairobi North Substation to Kimuka, reducing the risk of system instability and improving power evacuation from green sources like geothermal, wind, and hydroelectric imports from Suswa to Nairobi.
"This project supports Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by increasing access to affordable power and improvement of system efficiency and reliability for existing and proposed industrial and domestic loads in Magadi and Ngong, Karen and its environs hence improve social economic benefits of those areas," said KETRACO MD John Mativo.
The project is part of the Nairobi Ring and Associated Substations initiative, aiming to enhance power supply to the Nairobi Metropolitan Region.
It involves constructing a 103-kilometer, 400-kV double-circuit line from Suswa to the Isinya substation, along with substations at Suswa, Isinya, Kimuka, Athi River, and Komarock.
Financed by various entities, including the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the Government of Kenya (GoK), the project is valued at Sh16.9 billion.
Aligned with Kenya's Vision 2030, the project addresses key challenges in the energy sector by strengthening the system's capacity, improving transfer capacity.
Notably, it will provide a reliable power supply to vital areas such as Konza Technopolis and the electrified SGR, benefiting from multiple power sources once the project is completed.
Moreover, the Suswa-Isinya transmission line will bolster grid connectivity across Kenya and neighboring countries, ensuring stable power supply for regional interconnectors.
