Kenyans plunged into darkness following a nationwide power outage
What you need to know:
- The blackout struck as Kenya battles torrential rains that have led to deadly floods, costing 188 lives and displacing 165,000 people.
Nairobi. Much of Kenya was plunged into darkness Thursday following a "power supply disruption", the country's main electricity provider said, adding that it was working to restore access.
The blackout struck as Kenya battles torrential rains that have led to deadly floods, costing 188 lives and displacing 165,000 people.
On Thursday, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) reported there had been "a system disturbance on the grid, resulting in power supply disruption in most parts of the country" from 5:40 pm (1440 GMT).
"We regret any inconvenience caused and urge for patience from our customers as we work towards restoring normal power supply at the earliest opportunity," KPLC said.
As well as the capital Nairobi, with a population of five million, the blackout also affected other urban hubs including the port city of Mombasa.
"The power outage is in most parts of the country including Nakuru, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nyeri, Eldoret and other areas because the problem is on the main grid," an official at KPLC told AFP on condition of anonymity.
East Africa's economic powerhouse suffers power outages on a regular basis. In August last year, several cities as well as Nairobi international airport were without electricity for hours due to a system disturbance.
Services including immigration and baggage checks were stopped at Jomo Kenyatta airport, one of Africa's busiest hubs, after a generator serving the main terminals failed.
Transport Minister Kipchumba Murkomen vowed at the time that such a situation would "not happen again."
