Upgrade of Nairobi-Mombasa power line delays on vandalism woes

Corporate News

Kenya is losing millions of shillings owing to vandalism of infrastructure cables, the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company has said. PHOTO | FILE 

By Lynet Igadwa

In Summary

• There have been four vandalism incidents at the Nairobi National Park site.
• Ketraco estimates vandalised equipment at Sh10 million.
• The 482km 400/220kV Nairobi-Mombasa transmission line is the largest project of its kind to be implemented in Kenya and the East African region.

Vandalism at the Nairobi National Park has led to a two-month delay in the completion of 220kV Nairobi-Mombasa electricity line, State power agency says.

The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) forecasts the project, which was scheduled for completion in early September, to now conclude in November.

The delay will also impact on evacuation of the last 70MW of the planned 280MW from Olkaria through the Olkaria-Suswa-Isinya transmission line that was expected to come on board next month.

“This is a major blow to the energy sector and a great loss to the country and in future contractors may be expensive because they will have to include the vandalism risk in their quote,” said Alloyce Oduor, the senior engineer Electrical Design at Ketraco.

Ketraco has reported four vandalism incidents at its Nairobi National Park site since December last year.

On August 7, 123 metres bound coaxial and single core cables, as well as link boxes of copper valued at Sh10 million was vandalised at the park.

Construction of the 6.8km 220kV high voltage underground cable through the Nairobi National Park to Embakasi substation is part the 482km 400/220kV Mombasa-Nairobi transmission line, which is one of the Vision 2030 mid-term flagship projects aimed at boosting power transmission capacity between the two cities.

READ: Kenya plans Sh200bn expansion of power grid

Ketraco opted to lay underground cables instead of the overhead transmission lines at the park so as to clear flight path for the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and preserve the wildlife habitation scenery.

Officials from Voacom for Siemens Kenya, the company contracted to oversee the project said vandalism has slowed down civil works being done at the park.

Tony Gikoko, the Siemens Kenya project manager said materials to repair the destroyed section are expected in the country in mid-September.

“The cables for the underground transmission line are custom made for Ketraco by LS Cables of Korea thus the projected delay in completion of project,” he said.