KETRACO energises 86.4km Nanyuki–Rumuruti power line in Kenya; Chinese firms among contractors

The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) energised the 86.4-kilometre, 132kV Nanyuki–Rumuruti transmission line at 4:04 pm on Friday, 2 October 2026, according to reports published on 3 October by Citizen Digital, People Daily and Kenya Engineer. Both the 132kV and 33kV voltages were stable after switch-on.

The line is expected to shorten the distribution network serving Rumuruti by about 50 per cent. KETRACO says this will lower technical losses and improve the quality and reliability of supply. Rumuruti was previously served through a long 33kV line from Lanet, Citizen Digital reported.

The project is a single-circuit 132kV line on double-circuit towers. About 16.8 kilometres of it is underground cable.

The underground section was adopted after the Kenya Defence Forces raised operational and security concerns near Laikipia Airbase. It was designed to meet Kenya Civil Aviation Authority requirements.

Citizen Digital, People Daily and Kenya Engineer reported that the Government of Kenya, the African Development Bank and Exim Bank of India financed the project. Kenyans.co.ke reported on 3 October that construction began in 2023 and was completed in July 2026.

Kenya Engineer and People Daily reported that the underground cable works were carried out by Dongfang Electric International Corporation and Qingdao Hanhe Cable Company Limited, at a contract sum of US$14.3075 million.

Kenya Engineer reported that the overhead works were initially undertaken by Jyoti Structures Limited and completed by China CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd. (CAMCE), at a contract sum of US$4.580425 million.

KETRACO says the line will support agro-processing, irrigation, flower farming, manufacturing and hospitality, and make supply to Laikipia, Nyahururu and neighbouring areas more resilient and flexible.

KETRACO Managing Director Tom Imbo said, as quoted by Kenyans.co.ke on 3 October: "We are calling on small and medium-sized enterprises, industries and investors to come and invest in this region with greater confidence, because we are strengthening the power supply they need to grow."

The Star reported on 28 August that KETRACO had announced the completion and energisation of the 72-kilometre, 132kV Nanyuki–Isiolo line, and expected to energise the Nanyuki–Rumuruti line within three weeks.