A widespread power outage hit parts of Garissa Town on Saturday evening, leaving residents and businesses reeling after the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) failed to issue any prior warning.
The blackout, which began around 6:30 PM, has affected several neighborhoods including Township, Sankuri Road, and sections of Garissa’s central business district. As of Sunday morning, power had not yet been restored in many of the affected areas.
“We were caught completely off guard. I had customers in my salon when the power suddenly went out,” said Fatuma Adan, a hairdresser in Bula Hidaya.
“There was no message, no alert — nothing from KPLC. This is very frustrating.”
Ahmed Hassan, who operates a small restaurant in Bula Adan underscored similar concerns.
“Most of my food is stored in fridges. With no power overnight, I’m looking at a major loss. And still, no word from KPLC. This is unacceptable.”
Business owners also complained about the economic impact of the blackout, especially during the busy weekend period.
Mohamed Abdi, a taxi (public transport) operator based near Ngamia Road, said the outage affected night operations.
“We couldn’t operate properly after dark. It’s a setback for small businesses like ours. KPLC should have warned us,” he told Kulan Post.
Despite growing frustration, KPLC had not issued an official statement by Sunday morning, and no timelines had been provided for restoration.
Local community leaders are now calling for answers. “This kind of negligence shows a lack of respect for the people of Garissa. We demand immediate communication from KPLC and a clear explanation,” said Ibrahim Santur, a resident of Garissa Township.
The blackout comes amid broader concerns over power supply reliability in northeastern Kenya, with residents calling for long-term investment in infrastructure and improved customer communication.
The affected residents and health facilities are relying on backup generators, lanterns, and solar lighting, while many businesses remain closed and others are operating at reduced capacity.
KPLC had not responded to our requests for comment by the time of going to press.
