Mandera East MP Hussein Weytan at the Mandera power station./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Mandera East MP
Hussein Weytan interacts with KPLC officials at the Mandera power
station. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Residents and businesses in Mandera can finally look forward to uninterrupted electricity after the installation of additional generators at the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) power station, a move expected to end months of power rationing and frequent blackouts.
The breakthrough comes after a prolonged period of electricity shortages that plunged homes into darkness, disrupted learning in schools, affected healthcare services and left businesses counting losses.
For months, traders, hotel owners, cyber café operators, barbershops, cold storage businesses and other small enterprises struggled to stay afloat as recurring outages crippled operations and drove up costs.
The development was announced by Mandera East MP Hussein Weytan during a visit to the KPLC power station, where he assessed ongoing efforts to restore a stable and reliable electricity supply to the border town.
Weytan personally supervised the installation of the additional generators, describing the intervention as a major milestone in addressing Mandera's long-standing electricity challenges.
"The electricity rationing programme that has affected our residents and businesses in recent months will come to an end starting today," he said.
The MP attributed the progress to sustained engagements with President William Ruto and the leadership of the energy sector, including Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and other government officials.
"After a long period of tireless follow-up and engagement with His Excellency President Dr William Samoei Ruto and the leadership of the energy sector, led by Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi and the Principal Secretary, I am pleased to witness a significant milestone in addressing Mandera's electricity challenges," Weytan said.
He noted that the achievement was the result of continuous consultations aimed at finding a lasting solution to the county's power shortages.
Mandera, like neighbouring Wajir County, is not connected to the national electricity grid and relies heavily on diesel-powered generators for electricity generation, making it vulnerable whenever power demand exceeds available generating capacity.
The announcement has been welcomed by residents and business owners who say the outages had pushed them to the brink.
Mohamed Adan, who runs a welding workshop in Mandera town, said unreliable electricity had severely affected his business.
"There were days when we could not work at all because power was unavailable during business hours. We lost customers and income because many jobs require constant electricity. This news gives us hope that we can return to normal operations," he said.
Asha Hassan, a trader dealing in refrigerated beverages and dairy products, said the outages had caused repeated losses.
"I have been throwing away spoiled products every week because of unreliable power. The rationing was hurting our businesses and increasing our costs. We are happy that a solution has finally been found," she said.
Healthcare workers also welcomed the move, noting that dependable electricity is critical for operating medical equipment and preserving vaccines and medicines.
Weytan thanked Mandera residents for their patience and resilience during the difficult period, assuring them that efforts would continue until the county's electricity challenges are fully resolved.
"I wish to sincerely thank the people of Mandera for their patience, resilience and understanding throughout this difficult period. Your perseverance and cooperation have been instrumental as we worked tirelessly to secure this intervention," he said.
Residents of Mandera town going about their business. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Mandera East MP
Hussein Weytan at the Mandera power station./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
