KETRACO Energizes 132 kV Sondu–Homa Bay Transmission Line, Strengthening South Nyanza Grid

Last Updated 2 days ago by Kenya Engineer

The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) has energized the 132 kV Sondu (Thurdibouro)–Homa Bay (Ndhiwa) Transmission Line, marking a significant upgrade to the power transmission backbone serving South Nyanza.

The newly commissioned line is expected to reduce technical losses, increase high-voltage transfer capacity, and improve system stability across Homa Bay, Ndhiwa, and adjacent counties. Critically, it introduces a shorter and more direct evacuation path for generation from Sondu and Sang’oro power stations, enhancing operational flexibility within the regional grid.

Shorter Route, Lower Losses, Higher Reliability

Until now, Homa Bay and Ndhiwa have been supplied via a long transmission corridor from Kisumu through Muhoroni and Chemosit—a route exceeding 200 km. The new Sondu–Ndhiwa link spans approximately 69 km, substantially shortening the delivery distance and cutting resistive losses inherent in long transmission paths.

The region’s demand has also outpaced infrastructure capacity. The existing Kisumu–Muhoroni line, rated at 81 MW, currently serves a load of about 120 MW, necessitating up to 20 MW of evening load shedding to maintain system stability. By re-routing and sharing load, the Sondu–Homa Bay line relieves this bottleneck, improving voltage profiles and supply reliability. The reinforcement is also set to strengthen supply into Kericho County via the Sotik–Chemosit–Kisii corridor.

Project Scope and Delivery

The government-funded project involved detailed design, material supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of a 132 kV single-circuit transmission line, including loop-ins at Sondu and Sang’oro. Construction covered approximately 69 km and was delivered under a 24-month contract running from 30 May 2024 to 30 May 2026, at a total cost of KSh 692.9 million, fully financed by the Government of Kenya.

Commenting on the milestone, KETRACO Acting Managing Director Kipkemoi Kibias emphasized the grid and safety benefits:

“The energization of this line marks a major milestone in improving power stability in South Nyanza. From the outset, we engaged the community and advised those who had put up structures along the transmission corridor to relocate for their own safety. Public safety remains a priority as this infrastructure is designed to serve the wider region.”

Grid Impact

Beyond immediate reliability gains, the Sondu–Homa Bay line adds redundancy to the network, providing an alternative evacuation route during outages or maintenance and supporting future load growth tied to industrial and commercial expansion in South Nyanza.

With the line now energized, KETRACO advances its mandate to modernize and harden Kenya’s national transmission grid, aligning with government objectives to deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity as a foundation for socio-economic development.