Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) energised the 400kV Isinya–Konza Transmission Line and the 400/132/66kV Konza substation, a development expected to enhance power reliability and support the rapid growth of Konza Technopolis.
The newly commissioned infrastructure is set to bolster the national transmission network while ensuring a stable and quality electricity supply to Kenya’s flagship smart city and the wider lower eastern region.
The project was financed jointly by the Export-Import Bank of China (Exim Bank of China) and the Government of Kenya for Sh8.4 billion.
It comprises a high-voltage transmission line linking Isinya and Konza as well as a modern substation equipped with large-capacity transformers designed to improve power transfer and grid stability.
In a statement, Ketraco said the project significantly increases the capacity of the national grid to meet growing electricity demand from industrial, commercial and residential developments emerging across the region.
Speaking during the commissioning, Ketraco acting managing director Kipkemoi Kibias described the energisation as a major milestone in Kenya’s efforts to build a resilient transmission network capable of supporting long-term economic growth.
“The successful energisation of the Isinya–Konza Transmission Line and Konza Substation strengthens the reliability of the national grid and guarantees quality power supply to Konza Technopolis and surrounding areas,” Kibias said.
He noted that the project is crucial in advancing Kenya’s industrialisation agenda, attracting investments and supporting the implementation of the country’s Vision 2030 development blueprint.
Beyond serving Konza Technopolis, the infrastructure is expected to improve electricity transmission capacity across Kajiado, Machakos and Makueni counties, where power demand continues to rise due to expanding residential settlements, businesses and industrial activities.
The power transmitter said the project would help reduce network constraints, improve power quality and provide alternative electricity supply routes, thereby enhancing the resilience and stability of the national grid.
The new transmission link will also enable Konza Technopolis to access reliable green energy generated from some of Kenya’s leading renewable power sources, including the Kipeto Wind Power Project, the Olkaria geothermal fields and the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project.
In addition, the city will benefit from hydroelectric power imported from Ethiopia through the regional power interconnection network.
These energy sources are transmitted through the national grid via the Suswa and Isinya 400kV substations before reaching Konza, ensuring a diversified and sustainable power supply for the country’s premier technology and innovation hub.
Kibias said the project demonstrates KETRACO’s commitment to developing and maintaining a robust transmission system that supports economic growth, regional integration and universal access to reliable electricity.
