- According to Kenya Power, heavy rain is on most occasions accompanied with strong winds.
- These strong winds, it says, sway trees causing branches to touch and occasionally fall on power lines, triggering a circuit breaker that causes outage.
Image: KPLC
Unplanned power outages have become synonymous with rain in some areas, making a section of Kenyans to conclude for comical effect that Kenya Power ‘huanua stima’ when it pours.
‘Anua stima’ in Swahili literally means ‘remove electricity from the cloth line’ supposedly to save it from getting wet.
Kenya Power on Monday sought to explain what usually causes power outages in some areas whenever it rains giving rise to the comical assumption that the utility firm ‘huanua stima’.
“Hatuanuangi stima!” the company said on X.
“Here’s a detailed explanation of the correlation between rain and unplanned power outages,” it said.
According to Kenya Power, heavy rain is on most occasions accompanied with strong winds.
These strong winds, it says, sway trees causing branches to touch and occasionally fall on power lines.
“This triggers a circuit breaker leading to power outage,” Kenya Power said.
A circuit breaker is an electrical safety device designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by current in excess of that which an equipment can safely carry (overcurrent).
Its basic function is to interrupt current flow to protect equipment and to prevent fire.
Kenya Power said it has taken precautionary measures to prevent unplanned outages.
This, it said, is through cutting trees near power lines to eliminate the possibility of branches falling and triggering a circuit breaker.
“If you spot any trees or tree branches near power lines, dial *977# or call 97771 tukushughulikie faster (for quick response),” Kenya Power said.
The unplanned power outages that occur when it rains should not be confused with the periodic scheduled power cuts the utility firm occasionally effects to allow for system maintenance.
For instance this Monday, Kenya Power notified residents of Kiambu County that there will be scheduled power outage in Githiga and Gathangari from 9 am to 5 pm.
It said customers to be affected are those around Muna, Karirana, Githembe Farm, Mutosi, Gitiha and Gatina.
The company said Gathiongoi ACK, Gataka, Mathanja, Gathangari Dispensary, Kiawaroga Muna and the adjacent customers will also be affected.
In case of scheduled power outages, Kenya Power usually issues prior public notice to customers.