Mandera residents celebrate arrival of long-awaited generators
A 1.5 MW generator can produce 1,500 kilowatts (kW) of power, sufficient to supply electricity to approximately 1,000 to 1,500 homes in developed regions, depending on their energy usage.
Gripped by a prolonged electricity supply crisis, hundreds of Mandera residents gathered on Sunday to celebrate the arrival of the long-awaited 1.5-megawatt generators and other equipment expected to resolve the persistent power shortages in Mandera town.
The jubilant residents, who have long struggled with power outages that disrupted their livelihoods, broke into dance as two trucks carrying the generators, delivered by the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), made their way into the town.
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KPLC delivers the generators in Mandera. (Issa Hussein)
For the past two years, residents of Mandera town, Elwak town, and Kabo in Lafey Sub-County have voiced their frustrations over the lack of consistent and reliable electricity supply. They have repeatedly urged Mandera East MP Hussein Weytan and Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif to intervene.
Fatuma Mohamed, a trader in Mandera town, joined hundreds of women, youth, and elderly residents in celebrating the arrival of the 1.5 MW generator, capable of producing 1,500 kilowatts (kW) of power. This is sufficient to supply electricity to approximately 1,000 to 1,500 homes in developed regions, depending on their energy consumption.
Residents celebrate the arrival of generators in Mandera. (Issa Hussein)
"We cannot hide our joy today. We have suffered for so long due to the power crisis. The jubilant crowd celebrating is a clear indication of how desperate and neglected we have been," she said.
She noted that the lack of reliable electricity had severely affected traders, particularly those dealing in perishable goods.
Amina Abdirahman, a soloist who led a group of dancing women, highlighted the struggles her family faced. She explained how her ailing brother, who suffers from diabetes, had been unable to store his daily doses of medication, which required refrigeration.
Women In Arabia town celeberates the solar project on Sunday at Arabia town. (Issa Hussein)
Mohamed Hassan, a trader from Bula Mpya in Mandera, described the generator's arrival as a moment of relief.
"Our elected leaders kept promising that the government would address the crisis. While a generator and other equipment were procured, we were left waiting for so long. Today, witnessing the arrival of the generator is a turning point. We hope our businesses will recover, and life will improve," he said.
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