Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has announced planned electricity disruptions across five counties on Wednesday, February 11, as part of a scheduled maintenance and upgrade program aimed at enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the national power network. The affected counties include Nairobi, Nyeri, Migori, Kwale, and Kilifi, with the outages set to run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
In a notice issued to customers, KPLC explained that the maintenance work is designed to strengthen and modernize critical sections of the power distribution network. “This scheduled work is necessary to upgrade lines, reduce the risk of unexpected outages, and improve the overall stability of electricity supply across the affected regions,” the company said.
Residents and businesses in the affected counties have been urged to make arrangements for alternative power sources during the eight-hour outage period. KPLC also advised consumers to safely switch off electrical appliances and equipment to avoid potential damage when electricity is restored.
While the company did not provide precise details on the neighborhoods or localities that will be most affected, urban and peri-urban areas, particularly in Nairobi, are expected to experience intermittent supply interruptions. Schools, businesses, hospitals, and households are among the sectors likely to feel the impact, prompting many to plan ahead to mitigate disruptions.
Officials emphasized that such temporary inconveniences are part of a broader effort to modernize Kenya’s power infrastructure, which has been under growing pressure from urbanization, industrial expansion, and rising residential electricity demand. By upgrading lines and network components, KPLC aims to ensure safer and more reliable service for consumers in the medium and long term.
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Kenya Power has also encouraged the public to monitor its social media channels and customer service hotlines for real-time updates, including potential adjustments to the schedule or the order in which power is restored. The company noted that its teams will work diligently to minimize downtime and restore electricity promptly once maintenance is complete.
Energy analysts view such scheduled maintenance as critical for sustaining Kenya’s economic growth, particularly in Nairobi and other commercial hubs, where reliable electricity underpins business operations, manufacturing, and service delivery. Interruptions, while temporary, highlight the need for continuous investment in infrastructure to meet rising demand and prevent unplanned blackouts.
The announcement comes amid Kenya’s broader energy sector initiatives, which include expanding access to electricity in rural areas, integrating renewable energy sources into the grid, and modernizing the national power transmission and distribution networks. KPLC’s maintenance program is one element of these efforts, aimed at reducing technical losses, enhancing network resilience, and supporting economic activity.
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Despite the temporary inconvenience, KPLC emphasized that scheduled outages are preferable to unexpected blackouts caused by network failures or overloading. By conducting proactive maintenance, the company can address aging infrastructure, replace worn equipment, and ensure compliance with safety and operational standards.
Consumers are advised to take basic precautions during the outage, including limiting the use of sensitive electronics, charging essential devices in advance, and coordinating work or school activities around the maintenance window. Businesses reliant on continuous power, such as data centers and medical facilities, are encouraged to utilize backup generators or uninterruptible power supplies during the scheduled downtime.
As Kenya continues to grow both economically and demographically, scheduled maintenance programs such as this one by KPLC are expected to become more frequent, highlighting the importance of balancing infrastructure development with the operational needs of consumers. By keeping the public informed and minimizing disruptions, Kenya Power seeks to maintain trust and ensure that energy supply supports the country’s development goals.
