New transmission line to widen geothermal power distribution in Kenya
Start of excavation works for the Narok-Bomet transmission line in Kenya (source: KETRACO)
Carlo Cariaga
12 Aug 2025
A new 81-kilometer transmission line is being built in Kenya, helping distribute geothermal power to the western region and easing pressure on existing lines.
The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) has broken ground on the construction of a new 81-kilometer 132kV Narok-Bomet transmission line, which will distribute surplus geothermal power from the Olkaria Geothermal Complex to the western parts of the country. This will lessen the burden on existing transmission lines while improving system resilience and allowing the retirement of the 60-MW Muhoroni gas turbine.
The new transmission line will run from Narok to Bomet, and connect with the existing network towards Sotik and Kisii. This will also provide an alternative power supply from Olkaria to the South Nyanza region. The existing network running from Lessos is already currently constrained, thus requiring an evacuation corridor.
In late 2024, KETRACO awarded the construction contract for the Narok-Bomet transmission line to Chinese firm North China Power Engineering Company. This is part of the Kenya Transmission Network Improvement Project (KTNIP) which has a total budget of Sh 15.6 billion (approx. USD 120 million). Two other lines, the Weru-Malindi-Kilifi and Rumuruti-Kabarnet networks, will be built later.
Just about a week ago, state-owned power company KenGen received Cabinet approval for the planned Olkaria VII geothermal power station, which will expand the installed capacity of the Olkaria Geothermal Complex by a further 80.3 MW. Investment on expanding and upgrading the transmission network in Kenya bodes well both for the growth of the local geothermal sector and increasing the resiliency and access of the national electricity network.
Source: ESI Africa, KETRACO via Twitter, and Construction Kenya
