By Fridah Mbuvi | June 10, 2026
Residents and businesses across Migori County and the wider South Nyanza region are set to benefit from improved electricity supply following the completion of the Sh1.32 billion Masaba Substation, a major power infrastructure project developed by the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO).
The new facility, located in Isebania, introduces a 132kV bulk supply point to the county and is expected to address years of chronic power interruptions and low-voltage challenges that have hampered economic activities and essential services.
For more than a decade, the region depended on a strained 26-kilometre distribution line from Awendo, which frequently experienced voltage fluctuations and prolonged blackouts. The new substation is expected to significantly improve grid stability and enhance access to reliable electricity.
The project comprises a 28-kilometre 132kV single-circuit transmission line linking the expanded Awendo Substation to the newly built Masaba facility. It also connects the region to the national power grid, enabling residents and industries to benefit from electricity generated from geothermal plants in Olkaria and hydroelectric power from the Sondu Miriu station.
To improve reliability, the transmission corridor has been fitted with heavy-duty steel towers designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and reduce faults associated with falling trees and damaged poles. The substation is also equipped with a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which enables real-time monitoring and faster fault detection.
The infrastructure project was jointly financed by the Government of Kenya and the Export-Import Bank of China and constructed by China Aerospace Construction Group Company Limited.
Officials say the substation will strengthen power supply to towns including Isebania, Migori, Kehancha and Ikerege by shortening Kenya Power’s distribution network and reducing voltage losses.
The improved power supply is expected to have a major impact on healthcare services in the region. Migori County Referral Hospital, which serves thousands of patients annually, is among the institutions expected to benefit from a more stable electricity supply, ensuring uninterrupted operation of theatres, laboratory equipment and vaccine storage systems.
The project is also expected to accelerate last-mile electricity connectivity by providing Kenya Power with sufficient capacity to extend connections to more homes, schools and markets in underserved areas.
As part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, contractors involved in the project also developed water infrastructure to improve access to clean water for communities living around the substation.
Beyond improving power reliability, the facility is expected to boost economic growth and industrial development across the region.
The substation will support operations at the Isebania One Border Post, facilitating round-the-clock customs and trade activities between Kenya and Tanzania. It is also expected to enhance productivity in agro-processing industries, including Sony Sugar Company and the Getonyanya Sweet Potatoes Factory, by providing stable electricity needed to run heavy machinery.
Small businesses are also expected to benefit significantly. Reliable electricity will enable welding workshops, salons, cyber cafés, retail outlets and refrigeration facilities to operate consistently, creating employment opportunities and improving household incomes.
The project forms part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen the national transmission network and expand access to reliable and affordable electricity as a catalyst for industrialization and economic transformation.
