Kenya Power has launched a way leave trace maintenance project in Mombasa aimed at improving the quality of electricity supply.
The project will involve cutting of trees and vegetation along power lines to eliminate interference with the flow of energy.
Trees account for 60 per cent of power supply quality challenges facing Kenya Power.
In the Nyali area, about 75 per cent of the supply challenges are associated with trees and vegetation encroaching power lines.
“Vegetation greatly interferes with the quality of our lines. This maintenance project is part of a campaign to enhance the quality of electricity supply in the country,” said Kenya Power’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr Ben Chumo.
Kenya Power is allowed to clear vegetation on up to 5 metres on either side of the 11kV lines.
In the past, the company has been involved in pruning of trees near power lines but this has proved to be unsustainable in trying to achieve a clear way leave corridor.
The launch of the tree cutting project comes just days after a High Court ruling in favour of Kenya Power delivered by Justice P J Otieno on May 31, 2016 restraining the County Government of Mombasa and its agents from harassing Kenya Power staff lawfully engaged in lopping off trees, among other operations.
The ruling is a major boost to Kenya Power’s effort towards delivering on the promise of quality and reliable supply of affordable electricity.
Kenya Power is also installing new low and medium voltage lines and upgrading existing transformers and distribution lines to ease pressure on the network at the Coast and improve the quality of energy supply.