Residents of Ikutha town in Kitui South took to the streets on Tuesday, blocking the Kibwezi–Kitui road in a demonstration against a prolonged power outage that has gripped the area for the past two weeks. The situation has left many residents frustrated and without essential services, as electricity is crucial for both daily living and local businesses.
The demonstrators voiced their anger towards Kenya Power, the company responsible for electricity supply in the region. They called on the utility provider to urgently restore power to the affected areas and to address what they described as a significant disruption to their lives. The outage has not only caused inconvenience but has also raised concerns over the reliability of electricity supply in the region.
In addition to demanding the restoration of power, the residents have also called for Kenya Power to establish a satellite office in Kitui South. This request stems from the challenges they face when trying to report power-related issues or seek assistance. Currently, residents are often compelled to travel to Kenya Power offices located in Kibwezi, Makueni County, which is a considerable distance away. This travel not only consumes time but also incurs additional costs for the residents, who are already dealing with the fallout from the power outage.
John Kithwa, the chairperson of Ikutha town, has taken a leading role in articulating the residents' grievances. He has issued a two-day ultimatum to Kenya Power, demanding that they respond to the community's concerns. Kithwa emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the prolonged power outage has had a detrimental impact on the daily lives of the residents.
If Kenya Power fails to address the outage and respond to their demands within the stipulated time frame, Kithwa warned that the residents would escalate their protests. He indicated that daily demonstrations would continue until the company takes action to resolve the ongoing issues. The situation in Ikutha town highlights the broader challenges faced by many communities in Kenya regarding access to reliable electricity and the responsiveness of utility providers.
As the protests unfold, the residents remain hopeful that their voices will be heard and that Kenya Power will take the necessary steps to restore electricity and improve service delivery in Kitui South.
