KPLC says 15 missing transformers in Mbeere North were retrieved for maintenance
KPLC says 15 missing transformers in Mbeere North were retrieved for maintenance
The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has revealed the reason why it is removing transformers from Mbeere North, amid concerns that the transformers were being taken to Ol-Kalou as a campaign mechanism ahead of the July 17 by-elections.
In a statement on Thursday, July 9, KPLC said that the exercise was part of routine maintenance aimed at improving the reliability of electricity supply, dismissing politically linked claims.
According to the power company, transformers were removed strictly for maintenance and repairs, describing the process as standard practice carried out across the country whenever equipment develops technical faults that cannot be fixed on site.
“Kenya Power wishes to clarify that the transformers in Mbeere North were removed strictly for maintenance and repairs, just as is routinely done in other parts of the country,” a statement from the utility company said.
“Whenever transformers develop technical faults such as water ingress or other defects that cannot be rectified on site, they are taken to specialised workshops for repairs, testing and controlled heat drying to eliminate moisture and restore their integrity,” it added.
According to the company, 15 transformers were removed from the area between May and June 2026 for routine maintenance. Of these, 14 have since been repaired and reinstalled, while one that was vandalised last week is scheduled to be replaced on Friday.
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“Throughout such maintenance activities, the Company engages affected customers and keeps them informed,” KPLC said, noting that customers are informed whenever such maintenance work is undertaken.
The transformers in question was reportedly installed in 2025 during the Mbeere North by-election under the last-mile connectivity Stima Mashinanai project, bringing light to the area that had for years lived without power.
However, residents expressed concerns that months later, darkness is returning to the area and have demanded to be told where the transformers were taken, with others claiming that the transformers were transferred to Ol-Kalou.
Following the reports and widespread frustration among locals, Mbeere North MP Leo Wamuthende dismissed claims that the exercise is politically motivated, saying that the programme was targeting ageing transformers to improve the reliability and stability of the supply of electricity.
The clarification comes amid intensified campaigns in Ol Kalou ahead of the polls scheduled for July 17.
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