President William Samoei Ruto has commissioned the 132kV Sultan Hamud-Loitoktok Transmission Line at Loitoktok Substation, a key infrastructure project developed by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) to strengthen electricity supply across Kajiado and Makueni counties.

The commissioning marks a significant milestone for a region that has for years grappled with unreliable electricity supply. The completion of the 107-kilometre transmission line has strengthened the power network serving Kajiado South and parts of Makueni, providing residents and businesses with a more stable and reliable electricity supply while creating greater capacity for economic growth.

Stretching from Sultan Hamud in Makueni County to Loitoktok in Kajiado County, the 132kV line establishes a stronger transmission link between the two counties and brings increased power transfer capacity closer to one of the region’s key economic load centres. For communities and businesses in and around Loitoktok, this represents a significant shift from the past. For years, residents endured frequent power interruptions, with outages sometimes lasting up to three days.

The project involved the construction of a 108-kilometre 132kV Sultan Hamud – Loitoktok single-circuit Transmission Line, extension works at the existing 132/33kV Sultan Hamud Substation in Makueni County, and the construction of a new 132/33kV Substation at Loitoktok in Kajiado County.

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“The commissioning of the Sultan Hamud–Loitoktok transmission infrastructure demonstrates my Government’s commitment to delivering transformative projects that improve the lives of Kenyans,” President Ruto said. “We are investing in critical electricity infrastructure to unlock economic opportunities, support businesses and improve livelihoods. This project will increase power transfer capacity, improve electricity access in Kajiado South and strengthen the tourism sector around Amboseli National Park, ensuring that communities and businesses benefit from the opportunities created by reliable power.”

KETRACO’s project documentation had identified the Loitoktok area as a key load centre requiring improved access to reliable power. The completion of the project has increased power transfer capacity and improved electricity access for residents of Kajiado South, as well as hotels and tourism facilities serving the Amboseli National Park area.

The transmission infrastructure has also significantly reduced intermittent power outages, providing a more stable and reliable electricity supply within the southern region of Kajiado County. This has been achieved by shortening and reinforcing Kenya Power medium-voltage transmission lines.

Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Mr Opiyo Wandayi, said the country is witnessing increasing demand for energy from both private individuals and the wider economy, adding that the government is deliberately addressing the challenge through investments in power generation and transmission.

“For power to reach the end user, it must be transmitted, and that is why KETRACO is important. The Sultan Hamud–Loitoktok line and its substations are part of this important infrastructure development programme implemented by the government of Kenya,” said Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi.

On his part, KETRACO Acting Managing Director Eng. Kipkemoi Kibias said, the Sultan Hamud–Loitoktok line is an important investment in the country, strengthening the national grid while unlocking opportunities for enterprises, tourism, education and livelihoods across Kajiado and Makueni counties. “As KETRACO, our role is to ensure that the transmission infrastructure is in place to support inclusive economic growth and bring the benefits of reliable power closer to Kenyans,” Kibias.

The project was funded jointly by the Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM Bank of China) and the Government of Kenya, at a total project cost of Ksh2.7 billion. Construction works commenced in July 2021 and were completed on 19th October 2024, when the 132/33kV Loitoktok Substation was energized.

The construction works were undertaken by China Aerospace Construction Group Ltd, under the supervision of engineers from the KETRACO.

The Sultan Hamud-Loitoktok project forms part of the wider effort to strengthen Kenya’s transmission network and bring reliable electricity closer to communities and economic centres that have historically depended on weaker supply infrastructure.