Kenya: President Ruto Commissions KETRACO’s 132kV Kitui–Wote Transmission Line

Kenyan President William Ruto has commissioned the 66-kilometre, 132-kilovolt Kitui–Wote transmission line, a project intended to strengthen electricity supply in Kitui, Makueni and neighbouring counties.

The line was built by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) to improve grid reliability in the country’s eastern region.

Kitui was previously supplied through the 132kV Mwingi–Kitui line, while Wote relied on the 132kV Wote–Sultan Hamud line. The new link connects the two sections, allowing electricity to reach either substation through an alternative route during an interruption.

KETRACO said the network provides the Kitui and Wote substations with two 132kV supply routes. When supply through Mwingi is interrupted, Kitui can continue to receive power through Wote, the company said.

The KSh1.2 billion Kitui–Wote section forms part of the Mwingi–Kitui–Wote–Sultan Hamud transmission corridor. It was implemented under the Kenya Power Transmission System Improvement Project, with funding from the African Development Bank.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony at Kitui Substation, Ruto said the government was committed to strengthening the national grid and supporting Kenya’s clean energy transition.

“The Kitui–Wote Transmission Line is a strategic investment in Kitui and neighbouring counties, strengthening reliable power supply to drive industrialisation, enterprise growth, job creation, and essential services,” he said.

The project also provides an alternative supply route for Mwingi and Garissa through Sultan Hamud, Wote and Kitui. KETRACO said Garissa had continued to receive electricity through the route during recent maintenance work at Kindaruma.

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said the line would improve electricity reliability for businesses and support economic activity across the eastern region.

“The people of Kitui are already benefiting from improved power supply, which supports businesses to operate longer hours and strengthens the activities of Jua Kali artisans, mechanics, and traders,” Wandayi said.

He added that reliable electricity would support agricultural processing, including the production and marketing of honey from Mwingi and other parts of Kitui County.

KETRACO Managing Director Tom Imbo said the project had increased transmission capacity and operational flexibility, while creating room to meet future demand and support new connections in Kitui and Makueni.

“The interconnected configuration allows sections of the transmission network to be taken out of service for planned maintenance while electricity continues to flow through an alternative route,” he said.

China CAMC Engineering carried out the work under the supervision of KETRACO engineers. The company was contracted in 2019 to complete the transmission improvement project.