Kitui County residents, business owners and industrial operators are set to enjoy improved and reliable electricity supply following the establishment of a 132kV power substation designed to serve the entire county.
The facility, constructed by the national government through the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), is located in Matinyani Ward, Kitui West Constituency.
With a transformation capacity of 132/33kV, the substation is expected to significantly stabilise power supply for households, institutions, small and large businesses, as well as emerging industries across the county.
The project is part of government efforts to enhance electricity transmission infrastructure in the region and unlock economic potential by reducing frequent power outages that have previously disrupted business operations.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the facility on 26 January 2026 where the visit coincided with the marking of the World Day for Clean Energy, the
KETRACO Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Kipkemoi Kibias, said the substation has sufficient capacity to serve the county for many years.
He noted that the facility will supply electricity to homes, learning institutions, health facilities, industries and business premises.“This substation has a very high capacity and is designed to serve Kitui County for the long term.
“It will adequately support small businesses, industries, factories, households and institutions, ensuring reliable power supply for economic development,” Engineer Kibias said.
He added that, to further enhance reliability, KETRACO has implemented an additional backup project known as the Kitui–Wote transmission line.
The project is intended to support the Kitui substation by providing an alternative power supply route in case of interruptions.“Although this substation was commissioned in 2020, the need for an alternative supply was identified early.
That is why we linked it to Wote. This connection increases reliability and gives the county access to power from three different substations,” he explained.
As the country marked the World Day for Clean Energy, Eng Kibias emphasised that the substation supplies clean and sustainable energy, reinforcing the stability of the power system in the county.
“Kitui County now receives electricity from three sources, including the Kindaruma–Mwingi–Kitui line. In the event that one source fails, power can be supplied through the others, making outages less likely,” he said.
However, despite the improved infrastructure, KETRACO faces challenges related to feeder line interruptions.
According to Eng Kibias, when a feeder goes off, electricity supply to some areas can still be disrupted.
He called upon Kenya Power to strengthen the management and maintenance of distribution feeders to ensure that the full benefits of the new transmission infrastructure are realised by residents and businesses.
With the enhanced power capacity, stakeholders expect improved business performance, attraction of new investments and growth of industries in Kitui County, positioning the region as an emerging economic hub in Eastern Kenya.
By Josphine Kasimu
