Kenya Power has explained why the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital this week suffered a power outage leaving the lives of 30 patients at the Intensive Care Unit and 60 infants inside the incubators of the facility’s newborn unit at risk.
In a statement, Kenya Power said the electricity supply to Mombasa County offices and Kongwea market was disconnected on March 6, due to a pending bill of Sh120 million owed by the county government.
The company added that on March 7, a line supplying power to the hospital and its environs tripped but after restoration, the hospital remained without supply because of faulty equipment that resulted from a flashover on the unit supplying electricity to the hospital.
“This situation was not rectified immediately, as our team could not access the site because the Mombasa County officials impounded our vehicles following the disconnections that had been done on Monday. After several attempts, power was successfully restored to the hospital on the same day at 7:15pm,” Kenya Power added in a statement.
The company said protection of life was its top priority.
“Kenya Power regrets this incident and takes this opportunity to apologise to the hospital for any inconvenience caused,” added the firm.
On Tuesday, Mombasa County Chief of Staff, Noah Akala, said the disconnection was due to a Sh10 million debt but, Kenya Power’s Coast Regional Manager, Mr Hicks Waswa, said it was a “breakdown” adding that the supplier was working to fix the problem.
