Kenya Power: Nyeri Blackout Was Planned, Not Targeted at Gachagua
Kenya Power has refuted online speculation that electricity was deliberately switched off at the ACK Church in Mathira, where former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was attending a service.
On Sunday, March 23, the utility firm issued a clarification via social media, explaining that the blackout was part of a scheduled maintenance plan, and affected areas had been notified in advance.
“Good afternoon sir, kindly note that various parts of Nyeri County and its environs were scheduled for planned maintenance today, March 23, as circulated on our platforms,” the statement read in part.
Kenya Power was responding to claims from an online user who suggested that the blackout was politically motivated to prevent Gachagua from addressing the congregation.
“I’m hearing Kenya Power decided to switch off lights in the whole of Nyeri town today coz Riggy G is attending a Church service at ACK St Peter’s Cathedral. Nyeri people, can you confirm this, please? Do you have electricity?” the post on X read.
A notice issued on Saturday had already listed Nyeri, Mweiga, Naromoru, and Tetu as areas affected by the scheduled outage, which was set to last from 8 am to 5 pm.
In Nyeri town, the blackout was to affect multiple locations, including Kangemi, Asian Quarters, Witemere, Temple Road, Outspan Hospital, Golf Club, Kandara, Ring Road, and Nyeri Polytechnic. Other areas such as Karatina, State Lodge, and Ragati were also included in the maintenance schedule.
Notably, Gachagua was attending an Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) service, where politicking had recently been prohibited. Just a week earlier, on March 16, ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit announced a ban on politicians addressing congregations inside church premises.
“I want to give directions that from today henceforth, in any Anglican congregation, there will be no opportunity for any political leader to have a speech in the church,” he declared.
“We will mention their names, they will wave their hands, and if they wish to speak to the congregants, it will be done outside the sanctuary—not just today but in all our dioceses and churches,” the Archbishop added.
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Kenya Power: Nyeri Blackout Was Planned, Not Targeted at Gachagua
