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Residents from the Umoja estate in Nairobi lamented the slow response from the Kenya Power Lighting Company (KPLC) to fix the low-hanging power lines.
According to the residents, KPLC failed to heed all their appeals and their efforts to seek redress from the relevant authorities were futile.
They also lamented that despite the frequent visits to the KPLC head offices, little was done to avert looming danger.
“When they blow up, we all run for our lives leaving our business behind,” one of the residents lamented.
A screen grab of the low-hanging electric lines in Umoja estate in Nairobi
Inooro TV
To solve the issue, the residents used bottles and other materials to bar the electric lines from intertwining.
They added that most of their electronics, including television sets, fridges, and speakers, were spoilt due to the faulty lines.
One of the residents noted that he recorded a video of the lines to underline the plight of the estate to KPLC, but that did not bear any fruit.
“Some of the officials from KPLC came to the estate, they took some photos but nothing has been done since their visit,”
They were more concerned after the children came home for the December holidays.
“It is dangerous when it is raining and the kids are at home. Some of these electric lines are affected by the water,” another argued.
To add to the predicament, the main pole connecting the houses at the estate leaned forward and was projected to collapse at any moment.
The business community in the area that relies on electricity also decried low profits due to the unreliable power supply.
In May 2021, however, KPLC blamed electrocution cases on Kenyans, who they termed careless when handling electrical products at home and work.
A screen grab of a person showing how low the electric lines hang in Umoja estate, Nairobi
Inooro TV
A year later, in June 2022, KPLC announced plans to redesign power lines after an uproar from Kenyans and the global community over the electrocutions of wild animals.
KPLC vowed to partner with conservation agencies and the government to draft feasible and viable ways to understand the impact of power lines on wildlife.
