Kenya: Authorities confirm power supply disruptions affecting most of country as of late May 2

Kenya Power authorities have confirmed that power supply disruptions are affecting most of the country as of late May 2. Blackouts have been reported in several cities and towns, including Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Nyeri, and Eldoret, among others. The electricity disruptions come amid heavy rainfall and flooding in many parts of the country, and authorities have attributed the blackouts to a "system disturbance" experienced around 17:40 that was reportedly caused by flooding-related damage to electricity infrastructure. Kenya Power did not immediately estimate when electricity would be fully restored across the country. Officials will almost certainly provide updates over the coming hours.

Transport, business, and telecommunications disruptions will likely affect areas that are subject to power outages. Malfunctioning traffic signals may disrupt the flow of traffic in some areas and lead to longer driving times. The electricity disruptions could also result in the temporary unavailability of essential services in affected areas, such as hospitals, ATMs, and petrol stations. Additionally, power disruptions could adversely affect security protocols, including alarm systems and electronic fences; opportunistic criminal activity could increase during the blackouts.