The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) plans to build high voltage power lines in Western Kenya as it seeks to stabilize electricity in the region.
Ketraco has proposed a 220kV Kisumu-Kakamega-Musaga transmission line that will create a loop to connect Kakamega, Bungoma and Kisumu counties.
The second power line will run from Mumias to Bondo. The voltage for this Mumias-Rang’ala-Bondo has not yet been revealed.
According to the Ketraco Acting Managing Director, Kipkemoi Kibios, the lines will enhance system stability and reduce redundancy, effectively facilitating reliable power supply to agro-processing, manufacturing and other county level investments.
The projects come on the back of other transmission lines in the region that have been built in the last decade, such as the 400kV Olkaria-Lessos-Kisumu that has strengthened the lakeside city’s reliable electricity supply.
Ketraco recently energized the 132kV Awendo-Isebania transmission line in Migori county in June 2025. Recurrent power outages and reliance on diesel generators have been key challenges to the electricity supply in the region, which the two lines have solved.
Writing in the Star, Eng Kibias stated that the western region has often been overlooked but has slowly become the new frontier for investments and cross border trade. A boost in the reliable electricity supply does not only enhance trade, but security too.
Major regional initiatives such as the Kisumu Port, growth of Kisumu International Airport, powering the manufacturing and industrial parks that will be established in Kakamega, Kisii and Siaya, just to mention a few, are pegged on one thing – stable power.
~ Kipkemoi KIBIAS, acting managing director, ketraco
Western Kenya is a key sugar processing zone with 98 percent of sugar factories based there. Other manufacturing plants process cement, agri-products and home products such as mattresses. Aprt from investments, stable power is expected to boost uptake of electric vehicles and motorcycles in the vast region.
