The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) is set to enhance electricity reliability along the Coast with a Sh15.8 billion project that includes building a new substation in Kilifi and expanding the existing facility in Malindi.
Contractors interested in the project have until March 24, 2026, to submit their bids.
The plan involves a new 220/132 kilovolts (kV) substation in Kilifi and an upgrade of the 220/33kV substation in Malindi.
The Coast region has struggled with unstable voltage and frequent power disruptions, partly because it is far from the country’s main power generation centers and has a limited transmission network.
“The Government of Kenya has applied for financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB) towards the cost of the Kenya Transmission Network Improvement Project,” KETRACO said, noting that the project is also supported by the Korean Exim Bank (EDCF).
This development is part of the broader Kenya Transmission Network Improvement Project (KTNIP), which is focused on modernising the national electricity transmission system to meet growing energy needs.
Evening peak hours have been a major challenge for power supply in the Coast, forcing heavy reliance on thermal power, which is costly and environmentally harmful. The region consumed 1,932 Gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity in the year ending June 2025, accounting for 17 per cent of the country’s total 11,403 GWh usage.
The number of electricity consumers in the Coast has risen sharply, with Kenya Power reporting a 3.4 per cent increase to 721,896 by June 2025, up from 697,562 the previous year. This growth has placed additional strain on the existing transmission network.
The Kilifi substation construction and Malindi expansion are expected to strengthen the high-voltage network, reduce power interruptions, and support the rising electricity demand in the Coast region.
