LODWAR — After decades of relying on expensive, break-down-prone diesel generators, the capital of Turkana County is on the brink of a historic energy transition. Kenya Power is nearing the completion of major infrastructure projects that will link Lodwar to the national electricity grid for the first time since independence.
The KSh1.01 billion undertaking includes a new 66/11kV substation in Lodwar alongside a 90-kilometre, 66kV transmission line running from Lokichar. Once operational, the new network will deliver a stable power supply to more than 80,000 residents, bringing an end to the chronic power rationing that has long hindered the region’s development.
The transition marks a major financial relief for the utility provider, which currently spends approximately KSh900 million annually to run off-grid diesel generators in the region. Extreme heat in Turkana has historically accelerated mechanical wear on the generators, causing frequent outages and compounding operational expenses.
“This is one of those projects which we hold very dear to us. Since independence, the people of this area and this county have depended on generators,” said Kenya Power Managing Director and CEO, Dr. (Eng.) Joseph Siror. He noted that the construction cost of the line and substation is nearly equal to what the company spends on diesel in a single year, meaning the project will effectively pay for itself through immediate fuel savings while significantly cutting fossil fuel emissions.
Local community leaders and business operators expect the shift to catalyze regional commerce. Dependable energy is slated to stimulate growth across key economic sectors, including livestock trading, tourism, agribusiness, and mining.
Public services are also set for an immediate boost. Reliable power will extend study hours for students, expand digital access through local ICT hubs, and improve healthcare delivery by ensuring uninterrupted refrigeration for critical medical supplies and vaccines. For a town long forced to operate on the margins of Kenya’s power infrastructure, the grid connection signals a new era of industrial growth and socio-economic integration.
