Storm Knocks Out Power in Nairobi After Floodwater Hits South C Substation

Parts of Nairobi were left in darkness after heavy rainfall damaged a major electricity facility in South C. The storm, which poured for hours on Friday night, caused flooding that entered the substation and disrupted power supply to several neighborhoods.

Kenya Power said the intense downpour led to structural damage at the site, including the collapse of part of the perimeter wall. The company confirmed that electrical equipment was affected after floodwaters spread into the compound. As a result, multiple areas experienced outages.

The blackout impacted residents and businesses in South C, South B, Nairobi West and Madaraka Estate. Other affected locations include Lang’ata, Strathmore, Dam Estate, Wilson Airport, Carnivore, Kenyatta Market, Ngumo Estate and sections of the Industrial Area. Many households reported being without electricity for hours.

Technical teams were deployed immediately to inspect the damage. Engineers are carrying out safety checks before reconnecting customers to the grid. The utility company said efforts are underway to reroute some users to nearby substations to reduce the disruption.

“Our engineers are already on site, carefully assessing the damage to electrical equipment and working tirelessly to carry out the necessary tests and repairs,” Kenya Power stated. The company added that restoration will depend on the findings from the ongoing assessments.

The power failure followed widespread flooding across the capital. Heavy rain overwhelmed drainage systems, leaving roads submerged and vehicles stranded. Some motorists struggled to move through waterlogged sections of major highways during the night.

Residents in several estates reported water entering homes as storm drains could not handle the sudden volume of rain. The situation raised fresh concerns about urban drainage capacity and preparedness during extreme weather.

County authorities have activated emergency response measures to address the crisis. Multi-agency teams are coordinating efforts to assist affected communities and manage safety concerns. Officials are also urging residents to exercise caution as more rainfall is forecast.

Restoration work at the damaged substation continues, with engineers working to restore stable electricity supply across the affected areas as quickly and safely as possible.