Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has announced a scheduled power interruption for Saturday, November 15, 2025, that will affect parts of Nandi, Nyeri, and Kakamega counties. In a notice issued on Friday, November 14, 2025, the utility company stated that the day-long outages are necessary to facilitate routine network maintenance aimed at improving service reliability.

The interruptions are scheduled for different durations across the three counties, impacting critical infrastructure including schools, markets, communication boosters, and agricultural processing facilities. Residents and businesses in the affected areas have been advised to make alternative arrangements to minimize disruption.

Detailed Interruption Schedule

The specific areas and times for the planned outage are as follows:

• Nandi County (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM EAT): The nine-hour interruption will affect the Kiborgok area, including Kiborgok Girls' High School, Fr. Kuhn, and Koibem.
• Nyeri County (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EAT): An eight-hour outage will impact several areas, including Chaka, Endarasha, and Mweiga. Key facilities and businesses to be affected include Brookside Chaka, YATU Crusher, Kimenju Farm, and Kirinyaga Construction Yard. The blackout will also extend to Kiawara, Ruirie, Lamuria, Bellevue, Kabendera, Tanyai, Nairutia, Mugunda, Ngobit, and Matopeni. Additionally, the Gitunduti Market area, Gitunduti Primary School, Kagochi Market, and Safaricom and Airtel boosters will be without power.
• Kakamega County (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EAT): An eight-hour outage is planned for the Khayega and Ikolomani areas. This includes Shirere, Shitoto, Makhokho, Iguhu, Shisesia, Lusui, Ivonda, Isanji, Mudere, Irongo, and Keveye.

Economic Impact and Grid Stability Concerns

Scheduled power outages, while essential for maintenance, frequently disrupt economic activity, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that rely on a consistent power supply. Businesses such as salons, welding workshops, and cyber cafes often face significant losses during blackouts. In agriculturally significant regions like Nandi, Nyeri, and Kakamega, power interruptions can halt operations at facilities like coffee and tea factories, affecting production and supply chains.

These routine maintenance schedules come amidst a broader national conversation about the reliability of Kenya's power grid. In recent years, the country has experienced several widespread blackouts that have crippled economic activities for hours. A major outage in August 2023 plunged large parts of the country, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, into darkness, prompting apologies from government officials and raising questions about infrastructure resilience. The frequent interruptions have been attributed to an aging transmission network and system disturbances.

Consumer advocacy groups, such as the Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK), have repeatedly raised concerns over the quality of service and billing practices at the state-owned utility. These concerns persist even as the government signals reforms in the energy sector. Recently, President William Ruto acknowledged challenges in power generation, noting that plans for energy-intensive projects like data centers are on hold due to insufficient capacity. In a move to boost private investment, Kenya's National Assembly on November 12, 2025, lifted a nearly three-year freeze on new Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

While KPLC maintains that these planned interruptions are crucial for long-term grid stability and preventing more frequent, unplanned outages, the immediate effect is a day of disrupted commerce and daily life for thousands of Kenyans across the affected counties. The utility company has assured customers that power will be restored once the maintenance works are completed.