Power line collapse in Nkaretta following heavy downpour

Narok,

Friday, January 5, 2024

KNA by Ann Salaton

Residents of Nkaretta area in Narok Central Sub County want the Kenya Power and Lighting Company(KPLC) to strengthen the power line in the area after it collapsed and damaged their farms due to the ongoing heavy rains.

The residents led by George Kiok said the main power line was installed in 2013 but the residents still live in darkness as electricity has never been connected to their individual homes.

Kiok said the powerline was installed poorly as every rainy season, a section of the power line collapses and causes huge damage to their crops. “We are forced to keep off the area where the posts are because of the live wires.

This causes farmers to incur losses as part of their farms are left without being cultivated,” he said.

He called on the government to hasten the process of distributing power to their individual homes, saying the residents cannot afford to connect the power at individual level.

Another resident, Isaac Kosen said the fallen posts pose a danger to children and livestock that graze randomly in the area as they can be electrocuted.

“What scares me more is that our children are almost going back to school and some of the posts have fallen beside the road. We want the Kenya Power and Lighting Company to solve this problem before tragedy occurs,” he said.

Nkaretta Farmers Association Chairman Julius Ole Kishoyian, said their efforts to report to the Kenya Power Company were futile as they have never visited the area to see the damages the power line is causing.

“For years we have been complaining about this powerline, but our complaints always fall on deaf ears as the lighting company has never done anything to strengthen the power line,” he lamented.

Courtesy; KNA