Kitui–Wote 132kV transmission link strengthens grid resilience in Eastern Kenya

Last Updated 4 hours ago by Kenya Engineer

Kenya’s electricity transmission network in the Eastern region has gained an additional layer of redundancy following the commissioning of the 66-kilometre (km), 132kV Kitui–Wote transmission line by President William Ruto on 26 October 2026.

Implemented by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO), the KSh 1.2 billion project connects the Kitui and Wote 132/33kV substations, completing a transmission corridor designed to improve supply reliability in Kitui, Makueni and neighbouring counties.

The new link connects two previously separate supply sections. Kitui was supplied through the 132kV Mwingi–Kitui line, while Wote relied on the Wote–Sultan Hamud line. With the Kitui–Wote section in place, the network can supply either substation through an alternative route, reducing dependence on a single transmission path.

This configuration gives Kitui and Wote substations access to two 132kV supply in-feeds. It also improves operational flexibility by allowing electricity to be rerouted when a section of the network is unavailable because of a fault or planned maintenance.

The value of the interconnection extends beyond the two substations. By linking Mwingi, Kitui, Wote and Sultan Hamud, the transmission corridor provides additional options for moving electricity across the region.

KETRACO reports that the benefits have already been demonstrated during supply interruptions. When the Mwingi supply route is unavailable, Kitui can receive electricity through Wote. The wider network has also supported continued supply to Garissa during works at Kindaruma, with power routed through Sultan Hamud, Wote, Kitui and Mwingi.

For transmission network operators, this type of interconnection provides greater flexibility in managing outages and scheduling maintenance. It can reduce the likelihood of supply interruptions caused by the loss of an individual line, although the extent of protection depends on the condition, capacity and availability of the alternative route.

The corridor also supports electricity flows beyond the immediate project area. Kitui’s local demand is estimated at approximately 10MW, equivalent to around 240MWh per day. According to KETRACO, more than half of the power received from Mwingi passes through Kitui towards Wote and Sultan Hamud, where a larger share is consumed.

The line therefore serves both local consumers and the wider transmission network, reinforcing the role of regional substations as transfer points for electricity moving between generation sources and demand centres.

The Kitui–Wote section forms part of the 152.62km Mwingi–Kitui–Wote–Sultan Hamud transmission corridor, developed under the Kenya Power Transmission System Improvement Project (KPTSIP), with financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The wider corridor comprises three sections: the 44.45km Mwingi–Kitui line, the 66km Kitui–Wote section and the 65km Sultan Hamud–Wote line. The Mwingi–Kitui and Sultan Hamud–Wote sections were completed and energised before the final link.

Although the Kitui–Wote line was formally commissioned in October 2026, it had already been energised on 16 January 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Its commissioning marks the completion of the transmission corridor.

China CAMC Engineering Ltd undertook the works after being contracted in 2019 to complete the KPTSIP project, under the supervision of KETRACO engineers.

The KSh 1.2 billion investment in the Kitui–Wote section adds to the infrastructure required to strengthen the national grid, particularly in regions where supply reliability and the ability to accommodate future demand depend on greater network connectivity.

Reliable electricity transmission is a prerequisite for businesses that depend on consistent power supply, including workshops, small-scale manufacturers, agricultural processors and commercial enterprises. The improved network configuration is expected to support economic activity across Kitui and Makueni by reducing exposure to interruptions and improving the ability to maintain supply during planned works.

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi highlighted the potential benefits for small businesses and agricultural value addition, particularly honey processing in Kitui. The county’s apiculture sector could benefit from more dependable electricity for processing, packaging and branding, helping producers serve wider markets.

KETRACO Managing Director CPA Tom Imbo said the completed line had increased transmission capacity, improved operational flexibility and created room to accommodate future electricity demand and new connections in the two counties.

President Ruto, speaking at the commissioning at Kitui Substation, described the investment as part of the government’s wider programme to expand the national grid and support industrialisation, enterprise growth and essential services.

The Kitui–Wote connection also forms part of a wider network linking multiple electricity sources and regional demand centres. The route extends from Kindaruma through Mwingi, Kitui, Wote and Sultan Hamud to Konza and Juja, with a connection to the Tana hydro-generation stations through the Juja–Rabai transmission line.

According to KETRACO, the configuration supports electricity flows from different generation sources. These include geothermal power routed towards Konza through Isinya, solar generation from Garissa through Mwingi, and hydroelectric power from Kindaruma through Mwingi or Juja.

The availability of alternative pathways gives operators greater scope to manage power flows as network conditions change. It also highlights the importance of transmission infrastructure in integrating generation from different locations with centres of electricity demand.

As Kenya continues to expand and diversify its generation capacity, the ability to move electricity reliably across the national grid will remain central to translating available generation into dependable supply for homes, businesses and industry.

The completion of the Kitui–Wote line demonstrates how an additional transmission connection can improve the resilience of an existing network. Its longer-term contribution will depend on effective maintenance, adequate capacity across connected lines and substations, and continued investment in infrastructure that supports rising electricity demand.

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