Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) Managing Director Tom Imbo has said the Sh1.2 billion 66-kilometre and 132-kilovolt Kitui–Wote electricity transmission has improved power supply in the Lower South Eastern region.

The transmission line, commissioned Monday by president Dr. William Ruto, connects Kitui and Wote substations, Makueni County, and is now providing an alternative route for electricity supply, hence reducing the risk of power interruptions across the region.

The new power transmission line has also improved network configuration, providing Kitui and Wote substations with two 132kV supply in-feeds, thus enhancing the resilience and security of electricity supply.

Previously, Wote Town relied on the 132kV Wote–Sultan Hamud line. The new connection therefore links the two sections and allows either substation to receive electricity through an alternative route.

The Sh1.2 billion Kitui–Wote Power Line project has increased transmission capacity, improved operational flexibility and created room to accommodate future electricity demand and new connections in Kitui and Makueni counties.

According to the KETRACO MD, the interconnected network has room for sections of the transmission system to undergo planned maintenance, while electricity continues flowing through alternative routes.

This reduces the risk of interruptions and the need for load shedding during maintenance.

“The Kitui–Wote Transmission Line is a strategic investment in Kitui and neighbouring counties, strengthening reliable power supply to drive industrialisation, enterprise growth, job creation, and essential services,” said Imbo.

The Kitui–Wote section forms part of the 152.62-kilometre Mwingi–Kitui–Wote–Sultan Hamud transmission corridor, implemented under the Kenya Power Transmission System Improvement Project with funding from the African Development Bank.

The 66-kilometre section was energized on January 16, 2026, completing the corridor. The earlier 44.45-kilometre Mwingi–Kitui section and the 65-kilometre Sultan Hamud–Wote section had also been completed and energized.

The project was undertaken by China CAMC Engineering Limited, which was contracted in 2019 to complete the improvement project, under the supervision of KETRACO engineers.

The commissioning ceremony was also attended by KETRACO Board Chairman Capt. Mohamed Abdi, Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe, energy sector executives, Members of Parliament, local leaders and other stakeholders.

By Denson Mututo and Alex Ndili