By James Adika
Kenya Electricity Transmission Company has started construction of a 2.3 Billion ksh power supply project in Homa Bay County.
The project will end power outages that has stifled economic growth in Southern Nyanza region.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary, Charles Keter and Governor Cyprian Awiti launched the construction of the Homa bay Power Sub Station at Ongeng’ in Ndhiwa Sub County last Friday and announced it will be completed in a record of 15 months.
Mr Keter said the Sub Station which will improve the quality and reliability of electricity was part of the Sondu – Homa Bay – Awendo project and involves the construction of 106km 132kV single circuit line from Sondu through Homa Bay (Ndhiwa) to Awendo.
The project being undertaken by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) through a
Belgium contractor has a rating of 72MW and two 132/33kV substations at Sondu and Homabay (Ndhiwa) and extension of 132kV Awendo substation in Migori.
Speaking during the launch, Mr Keter said the project was part of the government’s commitment to increase electricity accessibility in rural areas by 40 per cent by 2030.
“There will be no more power outages in Nyanza. We want see robust industries including Fish processing plants by the shores of Lake Victoria because power disruptions which has been a problem will be history,” he said.
He ordered Ketraco officials to fast track the payment of families who will be affected by the Sub Station.
Mr Keter also assured the Governor that the national government will license a 8 billion ksh Solar power generation project slated for Nyakwere Hills and which has been slowed down by new tough regulations by the Electricity Regulatory Authority .
Mr Awiti said power disruptions in Southern Nyanza had suppressed the region’s economic growth since independence.
“I want to invite investors who feared Homa Bay because of electricity problems to come now, because we are bidding goodbye to black-outs.” He said.
