High Court advocate Shadrack Muyesu, based in Lodwar, has announced plans to file a lawsuit against Kenya Power Limited Company (KPLC) and its Turkana branch over recurring power outages that have plagued the town for the past three months. These blackouts have caused significant financial losses for Lodwar’s business community and damaged equipment due to inconsistent power supply.
Muyesu expressed deep frustration with KPLC’s failure to address the power outages promptly, sharing how the local economy has been affected. “Just recently, I was at a local establishment without power from morning till evening. When it finally returned, it kept going on and off. The damage this inconsistency causes to businesses is unimaginable,” he said.
Power outages in Lodwar, he noted, have become the norm. Unlike other areas where KPLC provides advance notice for outages, Lodwar residents are left in the dark—both literally and figuratively—without any warning. Muyesu criticized KPLC for the delays in generator repairs, saying the neglect has taken a toll on both the public and the local business community.
“We can’t just sit back while businesses endure these losses. KPLC must be held accountable and made to compensate those affected,” he asserted, adding that he plans to gather support from fellow members of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to pursue the case pro bono. He also urged Lodwar residents and business owners to document their losses and any equipment damage caused by the blackouts to strengthen their claims.
“If anyone has suffered due to these outages, even tragically losing a loved one who relied on oxygen, I’m prepared to represent you at no cost,” Muyesu stated.
According to KPLC, Lodwar’s power issues stem from a breakdown in both a major and a smaller generator, leaving the town with only three operational generators. Currently, each feeder receives power for just four hours daily until repairs are completed. “This schedule will continue until the two generators are repaired. We apologize for the inconvenience,” KPLC said in a statement.
Further complicating Lodwar’s power crisis is a fuel theft scandal uncovered by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu. The report revealed that KPLC employees, security guards, and fuel truck drivers colluded to steal over 1.1 million litres of diesel, valued at Ksh 207.65 million, which was meant for Turkana County’s off-grid power stations. This theft, spanning October 2021 to December 2023, has further exacerbated power issues in Turkana.
At the 2023 Turkana Cultural Festival, President William Ruto pledged to connect Lodwar to the national power grid within 15 months, promising a stable power supply. However, that commitment remains unmet. In September, Ruto allocated Ksh 900 million to expedite the completion of a 66kV power line from Lokichar to Lodwar, a project aimed at addressing the town’s power challenges.
With the power crisis ongoing and KPLC facing increasing scrutiny, Muyesu’s lawsuit seeks to bring accountability and relief to Lodwar’s business community and residents impacted by the persistent outages.
