President William Ruto has commissioned two major electricity transmission projects expected to strengthen Kenya’s power network and improve electricity reliability across parts of Kajiado, Makueni and Machakos counties.
The projects — the 132kV Sultan Hamud–Loitoktok transmission line and the 132kV Machakos–Konza–Isinya–Namanga transmission project — are designed to increase the capacity of the national grid and support growing economic activity along key corridors.
The commissioning comes as demand for electricity continues to rise, particularly from households, businesses, industries and major development projects.
What the two projects will do
The Sultan Hamud–Loitoktok project links Sultan Hamud in Makueni County to Loitoktok in Kajiado County.
The 108-kilometre transmission line, together with a new 132/33kV Loitoktok substation and improvements at the Sultan Hamud substation, increases the amount of electricity that can be transferred to the region.
According to the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), the project has strengthened the power network serving Kajiado South and parts of Makueni while reducing intermittent outages.
The second project strengthens the electricity network running through Machakos, Konza, Isinya and Namanga.
It comprises a 109-kilometre high-voltage transmission corridor supported by 132/33kV substations at Machakos, Konza, Isinya and Namanga.
The project was implemented in phases, with the 15-kilometre Machakos–Konza section energised in 2016 and the 94-kilometre Isinya–Namanga section energised in 2024.
Why reliable electricity matters in these areas
The projects are intended to do more than reduce blackouts.
By increasing transmission capacity, the government expects the infrastructure to provide a stronger electricity backbone for homes, businesses and industries operating along the two corridors.
For southern Kajiado, improved electricity reliability is also expected to support the tourism industry around Amboseli National Park, where hotels, lodges and other businesses depend on a stable power supply.
Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira said the Sultan Hamud–Loitoktok project has increased power transfer capacity and improved access to reliable electricity for residents and the hospitality industry in the Amboseli area.
What the Isinya–Namanga line means for businesses
The Machakos–Konza–Isinya–Namanga project is particularly important because it runs through an increasingly significant economic corridor.
The corridor includes Konza Technopolis, industrial and commercial developments and the Namanga border crossing into Tanzania.
Additional transmission capacity is expected to create room for businesses and industries to expand without being constrained by inadequate power infrastructure.
The improved network is also expected to strengthen electricity supply to economic centres along the corridor and support future industrial and commercial investments.
Ruto: Power infrastructure will unlock economic opportunities
President Ruto said the projects were part of the government’s wider effort to use infrastructure investment to stimulate economic activity.
“We are investing in critical electricity infrastructure to unlock economic opportunities, support businesses and improve livelihoods.”
Ruto said the Sultan Hamud–Loitoktok project would increase power transfer capacity, improve electricity access in Kajiado South and strengthen the tourism sector around Amboseli National Park.
The President has also linked improved electricity infrastructure to the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, arguing that reliable power is necessary for businesses and communities to benefit from new economic opportunities.
Government links power investment to industrialisation
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said rising electricity demand from households and the wider economy required continued investment in transmission infrastructure.
“Reliable electricity is at the heart of this agenda, and through projects such as the Isinya–Namanga transmission line, we are creating the foundation for businesses and industries to grow.”
The government sees stronger transmission infrastructure as a foundation for industrialisation because businesses require consistent electricity to operate machinery, expand production and attract investment.
Wachira described the Isinya–Namanga line as a strategic addition to the national grid, saying it would strengthen supply to key economic load centres and create opportunities for further industrial and commercial growth along the Machakos–Kajiado–Namanga corridor.
Namanga adds a regional dimension
The Isinya–Namanga project also has significance beyond Kenya’s borders.
Namanga is one of the country’s important entry points into Tanzania, making reliable electricity infrastructure important for businesses and communities involved in cross-border trade.
KETRACO Acting Managing Director Kipkemoi Kibias said strengthening the network to the border would improve power quality and reliability while supporting cross-border economic activity.
The project therefore links electricity infrastructure with both domestic industrial development and regional trade.
What happens next?
The commissioning of the two projects marks another step in expanding Kenya’s high-voltage transmission network.
The immediate benefit expected by residents and businesses is more reliable electricity and greater transmission capacity.
In the longer term, the government hopes the stronger grid will help attract investment, support industries, expand tourism and enable communities along the Machakos–Konza–Kajiado–Namanga and Sultan Hamud–Loitoktok corridors to participate more fully in economic growth.
For Kajiado South and parts of Makueni, the new infrastructure is also expected to address persistent power reliability challenges, while the Isinya–Namanga project provides additional capacity for one of southern Kenya’s rapidly developing economic corridors.
Meta description: President William Ruto has commissioned two major transmission projects linking Kajiado, Makueni and Machakos, with the infrastructure expected to improve power reliability and support businesses, tourism and industrial growth.
