Lodwar town and its environs are set to receive electricity from Kenya’s national power grid for the first time since independence, marking a historic milestone in the development of Turkana County.
Kenya Power is nearing completion of two government-funded projects designed to connect the commercial hub to the national grid: a 66/11kV Lodwar substation and a 90-kilometre, 66kV transmission line linking Lokichar to Lodwar.
The two projects have a combined cost of KSh1.01 billion and are expected to provide stable, clean and reliable electricity to more than 80,000 residents.
The new connection will support homes, schools, hospitals and businesses while creating capacity for future electricity demand as the town continues to expand.
Kenya Power Managing Director and CEO, Dr (Eng.) Joseph Siror, said the project would end the region’s longstanding dependence on diesel-powered generators.
“Since independence, the people of this area and this county have depended on generators, which are not very effective especially in this area, where the temperatures are quite high and running the machines on a 24-hour non-stop basis leads to breakdowns,” said Siror.
“Connecting this town to the grid means that the residents here will enjoy stable and reliable electricity to power their livelihoods,” he added.
Currently, Lodwar and its environs rely on diesel generators operated by Kenya Power at an estimated annual cost of KSh900 million. The generators have faced frequent breakdowns and power rationing, particularly amid the county’s extreme temperatures and rising electricity demand.
Siror said the financial savings from the transition to grid electricity would be significant, noting that the annual diesel expenditure is almost equivalent to the cost of constructing the new power line and substation.
“Once these projects are complete, we are looking at a situation where what we are saving just in terms of diesel costs for a year is equivalent to the cost of building the line and the substation,” he said.
Beyond improving electricity reliability, the project is expected to eliminate emissions associated with fossil fuel-powered generation and stimulate economic activity in sectors such as livestock trade, tourism, agribusiness and mining.
Kenya Power said the improved electricity supply would also deliver social benefits, including enabling children to study for longer hours, supporting ICT hubs and small and medium-sized enterprises, and improving the ability of hospitals and clinics to preserve vaccines and other essential medical supplies.
The grid connection is therefore expected to serve not only as an infrastructure milestone but also as a catalyst for economic growth and improved quality of life in Turkana County.
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