Power restored in Maili Sita after three weeks of darkness
Lilian Mukera points at her meter box showcasing lack of power in her home in Maili Sita on November 5, 2024.
A section of Residents in Maili Sita Kaimana Ward, are elated after their power was reconnected following a three-week power outage.
The reconnection comes after Mtaa Wangu's coverage of the issue yesterday, after visiting the area where residents had staged a protest lamenting on the non-responsiveness from Kenya Power.
In the interviews, residents were pointing out financial implications they have had to incur to sustain their business and activities in their households.
Angered, Lilian Mukera, a resident in Chips Cona, notes that she has had to throw away all the food she had refrigerated pointing out the food waste she had to undergo.
Lilian Mukera joined by other women to protest after not having electric power for over two weeks on November 5, 2024.
“My fridge was packed with frozen cereals and legumes. However, by the first four days of the power outage my fridge had already started producing bad odour, prompting me to throw away all the food,” she laments.
Mureka, who is also a land lady, notes that within that period, two of her tenants moved out.
“I have made countless calls to Kenya Power. However, they keep directing me to the individuals responding to emergencies. Till today nothing had been done, three weeks on. My question is who will cater for the losses I have undergone?” she asks.
On the other hand, Boniface Oluoch who runs an electronic shop noted that they had to stay closed since they have not been making any sales since the power outage.
Boniface Olucho a electronic shop operator in Maili Sita complains on how power outage had affected his business on November 5, 2024.
“Clients require me to test the electronics they are purchasing before they pay. Since I have no electricity, I could not test the appliance. I lost clients to shops having power,” say Oluoch, pointing his frustration on not making any sales yet he is required to pay the rent by the end of the month.
Jackline Mumbi , who has a child sitting for their Kenya Certificate Of Secondary Education (KCSE) notes it has been hectic for the child to revise for their exam.
Jackline Mumbi a resident in Maili Sita narrates how lack of electricity power is affecting her child who is currently sitting for her KCSE.
“I have been forced to purchase sh 4,000 rechargeable lamps and meet the cost of sh 20 to charge it when it goes off alongside my phone. As a person struggling to make ends meet this are expenses I had not foreseen,” she says furiously.
Another resident who runs a Wines and Spirits shop in the area notes that he has been forced to use sh 1,500 to fuel the generator per day, to power his two refrigerators and support entertainment at this premises to attract clients.
Responding to the matter through a phone call interview, Kenya Power Emergency Response officer in charge of Bahati, Peter Wainaina, shared with Mtaa Wangu that they have been working around the clock to ensure power restoration for residents in Maili Sita.
Mr. Wainaina explained that the power outage occurred after lightning struck the transformer damaging it beyond repair.
“We received the complaint about a week ago. We responded and took the transformer to our workshop to check on the extensiveness of the damage. After realizing the extent of the damage, we had to acquire a new transformer which took some time. However, the transformer will be fixed today (Tuesday) evening,” he assured the residents.