Masalani town in Ijara Constituency is facing a severe power outage that has damaged water, health, and security services in the town, which is located in Garissa County.
The power outage started on Sunday, forcing businesses like barber shops, garages, cyber cafes, and vegetable and milk vendors to close, except for those with backup power, such as generators or solar energy.
According to Masalani town watchdog chairman Mr Abdullahi Abdi, the Kenya Power and Lighting Company is losing millions of shillings while the residents lack water and health services.
He called upon the government and the utility company to establish a power station in Masalani town.
Further, he acknowledged that solar energy would be the remedy if the intermittent power failure continued in Masalani, which he says had 17,000 power connections.
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He pointed out that solar energy outlets have long queues of people lining up to charge their phones due to outages.
Other areas affected are Hulugho Sub County, Sangailu, and Bothai Sub County, forcing them to resort to generators and solar energy panels.
Speaking to Kenya News Agency (KNA), the Kenya power and lighting company officer in charge of Masalani Mr Silas Limo, said three power poles have collapsed due to flood waters and they are expected to be repaired on Monday.
Masalani Airport was also affected, forcing it to use backup generators during the intermittent power blackout.
Masalani, the sub-county referral hospital medical officer of health, Dr. Abdimalik Ibrahim, appealed to the Garissa County government to equip the hospital with a standby generator as service has been paralyzed.
Dr. Ibrahim said nurses were last week forced to use torches to assist a woman who was in labor to deliver at the facility.
Mr Silas Limo, the KPLC manager, said the distance between the Boji-Masalani bridge and the town is only 5km, and they are planning to erect concrete electricity poles after the floods subside to mitigate the frequent power outage
