Kenya: Widespread blackout continues January 10 /update 1

Event

A widespread electrical blackout struck parts of Nairobi and elsewhere in the country on the evening of Tuesday, January 9. As of 00:30 (local time) on Wednesday, January 10, outages continued to be reported in many areas, including at Kisumu International Airport (KIS) where flight disruptions (cancelations) are to be expected in the coming hours (at least). Disruptions at other national airports (including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi) have not been reported as of late January 9, but remain possible.

The Kenya Power and Lighting Company reported that a technical problem caused the blackout; authorities are currently working to restore service. Associated commercial and transportation disruptions are expected throughout the country in the coming hours until power is restored. It is currently unclear when normal service may resume.

Context

The Kenya Power and Lighting Company provides electricity to over 6.4 million customers on its grid. The majority of electricity is generated by geothermal and hydroelectric sources. While outages have become less severe in recent years, they remain a relatively common occurrence.

Advice

Individuals in Kenya are advised to monitor developments to the situation, plan for associated transportation disruptions, and follow instructions issued by the local authorities. In addition, individuals are advised to be cautious when driving or crossing streets as traffic signals may not be functioning. Individuals traveling to/ from KIS are advised to contact their airline for further details.