Wajir traders count losses in week-long power outage in town

Former KANU branch office in Wajir. Photo (Kulan Post)

By: Abdikadir Ukash

WAJIR—Shop and hotel-owners in Wajir are counting losses following six-day power blackout in the town.

The business owners said the blackout has caused them loss since they have not been notified of the severe power disruption.

“I keep meat and other perishable product in the refrigerator and the power outage is not doing any good to our business,” Mursal Adow, a shopkeeper at the Stage Giriftu said when Kulan Post went to assess the damage caused by the lengthened outage that started as sort of “power rationing” in mid July.

The power outage was a contentious issue ahead of the elections among county leaders, prompting Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to provide two back-up generators to cool down the tension.

Wajir town uses diesel powered generators that was functional since early 80’s when the town was small in size. In the last decade, the town expanded following the 2005-6 drought that saw the movement of pastoralists from the outskirts into the town area.

Besides the expansion, the Kenya Power and Lighting Company generators supply electricity to as far as Eldas and Tarbaj sub-counties.

“There’s no one who is concerned about this blackout and problems facing the common Mwananchi,” Mohamud Mohamed posted on Facebook.

“We have delivered votes for Wajir…we would like him to deliver the high-powered engine he promised last year and connect us to the national grid,” Eldas MP Aden Keynan said at the inauguration of the new governor Mohamed Abdi at Wajir Stadium.

“We will insist on the connection of (Wajir) to the national grid as a priority,” Fatuma Gedi, the County Women Mp, said.

In his maiden visit to the county on the 20th May last year, Uhuru pledged that he would deliver the engine to address the power outages “in two weeks” since the town is served by an old low capacity engine.

In his defense, the president promised, once again in April that he would deliver the engine without offering a specific timeline.

On August 28th, a group of people took to the streets to complain about the constant power blackout. In response to the mass action, KPLC allowed the residents to enjoy uninterrupted power supply until after three days when they resumed the “rationing”.

We contacted the Kenya Power and Lighting Company in Wajir for answers. They promised they would get back to us for detailed response. They maintained that the problem was “a slight technical hiccup.”

Similar answer was provided by the company’s communication office in Nairobi. In a brief email, the lighting company said, “We have taken note of the concern, but our technicians are working to make everything alright. Thanks.”