President William Ruto has officially commissioned the Sh1.4 billion Awendo–Masaba 132kV Transmission Line, a major electricity infrastructure project expected to improve power reliability and increase transmission capacity in Migori County and neighbouring areas.
The project, implemented by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO), comprises a 28-kilometre 132kV single-circuit transmission line, a newly constructed substation at Masaba and an extension of the existing Awendo Substation.
The infrastructure is expected to strengthen electricity supply to several areas, including Migori, Isebania, Ikerege and Kehancha, while improving the ability of the national grid to transfer power to areas experiencing growing demand.
Speaking during the commissioning, President Ruto said the government would continue investing in electricity transmission infrastructure as part of efforts to support economic activity and improve access to reliable power.
The President said stronger transmission networks were critical in supporting businesses, industries and essential public services, while also helping the government advance its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
The Awendo–Masaba project is estimated to have improved power transfer capacity and electricity reliability in the region by about 25 per cent during its first year of operation.
A key technical benefit of the project is the delivery of high-voltage electricity directly to the new Masaba Substation. This has shortened the distribution distances covered by Kenya Power, a development expected to reduce both the frequency and duration of power interruptions.
The improved transmission network is particularly expected to benefit urban centres and surrounding areas, including Migori, Isebania, Ikerege and Kehancha, where reliable electricity is critical for businesses, households and public institutions.
The project has also enhanced the resilience of the regional electricity network by facilitating access to power generated from diversified and cleaner energy sources, including hydropower from the Sondu Power Plant and geothermal electricity from the Olkaria complex.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary, Opiyo Wandayi said the project demonstrates the government’s commitment to addressing infrastructure needs in the Nyanza region.
Wandayi said investments in electricity infrastructure would help support local industries and businesses while ensuring that Nyanza benefits from national development programmes.
The improved electricity supply is already supporting industrial and commercial activities in the region, including operations at Sony Sugar Factory and Getonyanya Sweet Potatoes Factory.
Critical public services are also expected to benefit from more reliable electricity, with Migori County Referral Hospital among the institutions that rely on a stable power supply to deliver essential healthcare services.
The transmission project is also expected to strengthen electricity supply to the Isebania One Stop Border Post, supporting customs and border-control operations at the Kenya-Tanzania border.
A more reliable power supply at the border facility could also support the efficiency of cross-border trade and other commercial activities between Kenya and Tanzania.
KETRACO Chairman of the Board of Directors Captain Mohamed M. Abdi said the project was part of efforts to strengthen the capacity and resilience of the national electricity grid.
Abdi said the KETRACO board would continue providing oversight and policy direction to ensure transmission projects were implemented efficiently and that communities ultimately realized the benefits of the investments.
The Awendo–Masaba project was initiated in September 2021 under the Kenya Power Transmission Expansion Project programme.
The project was energized on June 6, 2025, before its official commissioning by the President.
It was financed jointly by the Exim Bank of China and the Government of Kenya at a contract cost of Sh1.4 billion.
China Aerospace Construction Group Company Limited was contracted to undertake the project.
The commissioning marks another milestone in efforts to expand Kenya’s high-voltage transmission network, with the Awendo–Masaba line expected to play a significant role in improving electricity reliability, supporting economic activities and strengthening public services across Migori County and the wider region.
