Kenya hit by power outage
Most parts of the country were without electricity for more than an hour on Sunday afternoon following a fault at one Kenya's power generating plant. Above, motorists drive on a dark road in Nairobi on November 01, 2009 night as the city experienced a blackout. Photo/PHOEBE OKALL
Kenya was without electricity for more than an hour Sunday afternoon after a fault at one of the country’s power generating plant.
The fault caused the shut-down of two machines at Gitaru hydroelectric power station, leading to a power blackout in most parts of the country.
According to Kenya Power and Lighting Company communications official Migwi Theuri, the rest of the generators could not handle the load and shut down automatically, causing the blackout.
The two generators at Gitaru were supplying 135 Megawatts out of the demand of 635 Megawatts at the time, said Mr Theuri, and the fault occurred at 12.57 pm.
Restoration of power began nearly an hour later at 1.45 pm, he said, and the bulk of Kenya would be reconnected by 3.30 pm
