Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has announced plans to connect Wajir County to the national electricity grid through a transmission line from Ethiopia, in a move aimed at ending years of persistent power shortages in the region.
Speaking in Wajir when he presided over the disbursement of NYOTA capital funds, the President acknowledged the long-standing electricity challenges that have hampered development in the area.
“I know we have a problem with electricity in this area. But I have some good news for the people of Wajir. We have a short-term solution and a long-term solution,” President Ruto said.
As an immediate intervention, the Head of State revealed that the government will deliver a 300-megawatt generator next week to stabilise power supply and ease the current crisis.
“For the short term, I will next week bring you a 300-megawatt generator to help in addressing the problem. But in the long run, we will connect Wajir with Ethiopia — about 70 kilometres — and Mandera as well,” he stated.
The President explained that the connection will ensure Wajir and Mandera counties are integrated into the national grid, improving reliability and supporting economic growth.
He further noted that the project will incorporate solar hybridisation to harness the region’s abundant sunlight.
“The connection with the national grid will go hand in hand with solar hybridisation so as to harness solar energy and turn it into an energy resource as opposed to it going to waste,” he said.
For years, residents of Wajir have voiced frustration over frequent and prolonged power outages that have disrupted businesses and essential services. Traders have reported significant losses due to unreliable electricity, while health facilities have also struggled to operate effectively.
The planned connection is expected to draw from Ethiopia’s growing electricity capacity, including power generated from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa’s largest hydroelectric project built on the Blue Nile.
Commissioned last year, the GERD was constructed between 2011 and 2023 to address Ethiopia’s energy shortages and enable electricity exports to neighbouring countries.
With an installed capacity of 5.15 gigawatts, the dam is the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa and among the 20 largest in the world.
The announcement signals a major step toward improving energy access in northern Kenya and unlocking new economic opportunities for the region.
