Residents of Kiunga village near Kagio town in Kirinyaga County have been facing a power blackout for the past five months, prompting them to hold a demonstration on Monday demanding that Kenya Power restore electricity immediately.
The protestors, numbering about 500 affected homesteads, have given the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) a three-day ultimatum to restore power, threatening to take their protest to the company’s offices if their demands are not met.
Sammy Mutugi, a resident of the village, highlighted the adverse effects of the prolonged blackout, noting that electronic equipment such as refrigerators, radios, laptops, and televisions have been unusable.
Additionally, the blackout has made it difficult for children to complete their school work.
The residents allege that Kenya Power removed their original transformer without any explanation and replaced it with a smaller one that lacks the capacity to supply electricity to all the nearby homes.
“We therefore want the company to replace this transformer with a new one that can serve all villagers,” he said.
The residents claim that their cries to KPLC have fallen on deaf ears.
However, Kirinyaga County KPLC branch manager Ruto Kipkorir said his office is yet to receive the complaints adding the company will be doing a follow-up on the matter.
“We cannot put a small transformer. In any installation we do we have to look at the number of customers to be supplied and ensure that the transformer in place is adequate,” he said.
“But if that is the issue, we can always upgrade (the transformer). Five hundred people is not a small number and so when you talk of 500 people not having power, there must be a better reason.”
The prolonged power outage in Kiunga village near Kagio town, Kirinyaga County, has exacerbated the residents’ struggles, with criminals exploiting the situation to commit various crimes such as burglary, stealing, and mugging.
Lucy Wangui, a local resident, reported that her home was recently raided, resulting in the theft of several items. Due to the lack of electricity, residents have been forced to buy paraffin, candles, and petrol for energy and lighting.
Josphat Mwaniki highlighted another serious issue affecting those with medical needs, specifically diabetes patients who rely on insulin.
Without proper refrigeration, storing insulin has become a significant challenge, forcing residents to seek storage facilities in nearby Kagio town.
Unused insulin must be stored in a refrigerator to maintain its efficacy. The residents’ demands for immediate action from Kenya Power underscore the severe impact of the blackout on their daily lives and safety.
