Kenya has sealed its first-ever power transmission Public-Private Partnership worth Ksh 40.4, billion between KETRACO, Africa50 and India’s Power Grid Corporation.
Speaking during the signing of the tripatite agreement in Nairobi on Monday,the National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo said the 40.4 billion shilling project is fully privately financed, easing pressure on public funds while accelerating delivery of reliable electricity to meet rising demand.
Discussions around opening up the electricity transmission space to private capital have been intensifying as government grappled with constrained public finances, rising demand and the urgent need to expand and stabilize the national grid.
At the centre of the project are two high-voltage transmission lines, a 130-kilometre 400kV Lessos-Loosuk line linking power from Lake Turkana and Northern Kenya and a 72-kilometre 220kV Kibos-Kakamega-Musaga double-circuit line aimed at improving grid reliability and boosting electricity capacity across Kisumu, Vihiga, Kakamega and surrounding counties.
The government says once completed, the lines will support the integration of renewable energy, reduce technical losses and deliver more reliable power to households.
