Kenya: Nairobi and six regions plunged into darkness

A power failure paralyzes Nairobi and six regions of Kenya, affecting millions of people. Backup systems at Jomo Kenyatta airport ensure continued operations.

Share:

Nairobi dans le noir

On August 30, 2024, the Kenyan power grid suffered a blackout of unusual proportions, plunging the capital Nairobi and six of the eight regions connected to the national grid into darkness.
Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), operator of the electricity distribution infrastructure, has announced that only the North Rift region and parts of the West are unaffected.
The blackout starts at 9:30 pm local time and affects millions of users across the country.
KPLC issued a statement to the effect that its teams were actively working to restore power, but did not provide details of the cause of the incident. Localized power cuts are relatively common in Kenya, but large-scale outages have become more frequent in recent years, raising concerns about the robustness of the national grid.
In May 2024, several regions were already plunged into darkness for hours.
These successive interruptions highlight shortcomings in the management of energy infrastructures and call into question the resilience of the system.
With each incident, the need to improve preventive maintenance and invest in plant modernization becomes more pressing to ensure the continuity of economic activities and minimize the impact on users.

Jomo Kenyatta airport maintains operations thanks to back-up systems

Despite the extent of the blackout in Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), a crucial hub for passenger and freight traffic in East Africa, continues to operate normally.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirms that backup generators and other emergency power systems were activated as soon as the power cut occurred.
“The airport’s emergency power systems and generators were activated promptly after the national grid failure, ensuring that a full power supply was maintained without any interruption to services or flight operations,” says KAA on X. This proactivity contrasts with the situation the previous year, when a major outage, also nationwide, caused significant disruption at JKIA due to a problem with a backup generator.
In 2023, this failure led to delays and disrupted airport operations, prompting the authorities to reinforce the capacity of the back-up systems.
JKIA, with 8.8 million passengers and 380,000 tonnes of freight passing through each year, depends on precise management of its energy resources to maintain its position as a regional hub.

Mixed reaction from users and industry observers

Recurrent blackouts in Kenya are causing palpable discontent among users and industry observers alike.
On social networks, criticism of KPLC’s management of the power grid is multiplying.
Many users are expressing frustration at the frequency of interruptions, wondering why these incidents persist despite KPLC’s regular assurances of improved network reliability.
Some Internet users make fun of the company’s acronym, transforming it into “Kenya Poor Lighting Company”, a remark that reflects the loss of confidence on the part of some consumers.
For players in the energy sector, these interruptions highlight structural and organizational challenges that require a rigorous response.
Investments in infrastructure modernization, diversification of energy sources and improved network management are becoming essential to strengthen system resilience.
Repeated blackouts could also affect investment prospects in the country’s energy sector if concrete measures are not taken to remedy these malfunctions.

Towards an enhanced crisis management and maintenance strategy

Faced with this situation, the Kenyan government and stakeholders in the energy sector are being forced to rethink their approach to crisis management and infrastructure maintenance.
Implementing stricter maintenance programs, adopting smart grid technologies and strengthening energy storage capacities are just some of the measures that could reduce the impact of future large-scale blackouts.
Greater attention is also being paid to coordination between public and private players to ensure a more effective and rapid response in the event of an incident.
Efforts to stabilize the grid need to be supported by a coherent energy policy that takes into account not only generation and distribution, but also infrastructure management and back-up systems.
Grid resilience is key to Kenya’s economic development and investor confidence.
Any weakness in this area could jeopardize the country’s growth objectives.
The need for proactive governance and long-term planning is highlighted, as Kenya strives to maintain the stability of its power grid.
Frequent power cuts and their economic impact call for a review of energy infrastructure development strategies to minimize future risks and enhance the country’s energy security.

Terna and NPC Ukrenergo have concluded a three-year partnership in Rome aimed at strengthening the integration of the Ukrainian grid into the pan-European system, with an in-depth exchange of technological and regulatory expertise.
GE Vernova has secured a major contract to modernise the Kühmoos substation in Germany, enhancing grid reliability and integration capacity for power flows between Germany, France and Switzerland.
The National Energy System Operator forecasts electricity demand to rise to 785 TWh by 2050, underlining the need to modernise grids and integrate more clean energy to support the UK’s energy transition.
Terna has signed a guarantee agreement with SACE and the European Investment Bank to finance the Adriatic Link project, totalling approximately €1bn ($1.08bn) and validated as a major transaction under Italian regulations.
India unveils a series of reforms on oil and gas contracts, introducing a fiscal stability clause to enhance the sector’s attractiveness for foreign companies and boost its growth ambitions in upstream energy.
The European Commission is launching a special fund of EUR2.3bn ($2.5bn) to boost Ukraine’s reconstruction and attract private capital to the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Asia dominated global new renewable energy capacity in 2024 with 71% of installations, while Africa recorded limited growth of only 7.2%, according to the latest annual report from IRENA.
US President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act dramatically changes energy investment rules, imposing restrictions on renewables while favouring hydrocarbons, according to a recent report by consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie.
On July 8, 2025, the Senate validated the Gremillet bill, aimed at structuring France's energy transition with clear objectives for nuclear power, renewable energies, and energy renovation.
Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru significantly increase renewable electricity production, reaching nearly 70% of the regional electricity mix, according to a recent Wood Mackenzie study on Latin America's energy sector.
The Canadian government announces an investment of more than $40mn to fund 13 energy projects led by Indigenous communities across the country, aiming to improve energy efficiency and increase local renewable energy use.
The German Ministry of Economy plans to significantly expand aid aimed at reducing industrial electricity costs, increasing eligible companies from 350 to 2,200, at an estimated cost of €4bn ($4.7bn).
A major electricity blackout paralyzed large parts of the Czech Republic, interrupting transport and essential networks, raising immediate economic concerns, and highlighting the vulnerability of energy infrastructures to unforeseen technical incidents.
French greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2025, indicating a global slowdown in reductions forecast for the full year, according to Citepa, an independent organisation responsible for national monitoring.
The Republican budget bill passed by the U.S. Senate accelerates the phase-out of tax credits for renewable energies, favoring fossil fuels and raising economic concerns among solar and wind industry professionals.
Rapid growth in solar and wind capacities will lead to a significant rise in electricity curtailment in Brazil, as existing transmission infrastructure remains inadequate to handle this massive influx of energy, according to a recent study by consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.
In April 2025, fossil fuels represented 49.5% of South Korea's electricity mix, dropping below the symbolic threshold of 50% for the first time, primarily due to a historic decline in coal-generated electricity production.
The US Senate Finance Committee modifies the '45Z' tax credit to standardize the tax treatment of renewable fuels, thereby encouraging advanced biofuel production starting October 2025.
According to the 2025 report on global energy access, despite notable progress in renewable energy, insufficient targeted financing continues to hinder electricity and clean cooking access, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
While advanced economies maintain global energy leadership, China and the United States have significantly progressed in the security and sustainability of their energy systems, according to the World Economic Forum's annual report.