Homa bay: The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) has urged residents with structures built along the Sondu-Ndhiwa power transmission corridor to vacate and remove them ahead of the planned energisation of the line next week. KETRACO cited safety concerns and the urgent need to stabilise the power supply in the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, KETRACO Engineer Justine Muna, speaking in Homa Bay, said the Sondu-Ndhiwa transmission project, which began in July last year, has been completed through close cooperation between the company and local residents. However, he noted that encroachment along the power line has delayed its full commissioning.
Muna explained that the line carries 132,000 volts, far higher than the 240 volts used in households, and therefore requires strict electrical clearances. Any structures under the line pose a serious risk of electrocution and could also cause frequent power interruptions due to safety shutdowns. KETRACO has issued notices requiring affected residents to remove the structures within 14 days, adding that the line is scheduled to be energised next week, and so the structures needed to be cleared beforehand.
He stressed that all structures that existed during the initial census were compensated, and those built afterward were illegal and must be demolished for safety reasons. Muna appealed to those who put up structures after compensation to move voluntarily, stating that the project was developed to support the community, promote business, and enhance prosperity in the region.
Homa Bay County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi echoed the call, saying the energisation of the Sondu-Ndhiwa line is critical to meeting the growing power demand in the county and neighbouring regions. He highlighted that Homa Bay is experiencing rapid growth, with increased interest from investors, particularly in the blue economy and fish industry along the lake region. The current power load cannot sustain this growth, which is why it is urgent to energise this line.
Mwiwawi revealed that authorities have identified seven high-risk structures built directly under the transmission line, describing them as extremely dangerous if the line is energised. The owners have been notified and given a deadline to remove them before the scheduled energisation date.
The County Commissioner added that other structures built close to, but not directly under, the line have also been flagged and their owners advised to relocate for safety reasons. Unoccupied structures along the corridor will be demolished with the help of local administrators. Mwiwawi noted that once the line is energised, Homa Bay County and several neighbouring counties will benefit from improved power stability, reduced blackouts, and increased capacity to attract investors.
Both KETRACO and county officials appealed to residents for cooperation, emphasising that the project is meant to benefit the community and support long-term development in Homa Bay County and the wider region.
