Load shedding refers to the planned, temporary shutdown of electricity to parts of the grid, used when power demand exceeds available supply. The goal is to maintain grid stability and avoid a total collapse of the electricity network.
In recent months, the issue has gained wide attention after the government acknowledged the need to shut off power in some areas between 5 pm and 10 pm in order to redirect electricity and meet demand peaks. Essentially, when too many households and businesses draw power at once, especially after sunset when solar output drops, the grid operator must deliberately reduce load by turning off supply in manageable segments.
Kenyans are already used to random power outages and messages from Kenya Power. We’ve lived through evenings where the lights suddenly cut and you pray your phone has charge.
But load-shedding is not that.
Normal outages = unexpected disruptions
Load-shedding = planned, structured, and deliberate shut-offs to protect the grid
| Situation | Old/Normal Outage | Load-Shedding |
|---|---|---|
| Why it happens | Faults, maintenance, accidents, grid failure | Demand > supply, controlled rationing |
| Timing | Random, unpredictable | Scheduled hours (e.g., 5pm – 10pm) |
| Notification | Often none | Should be announced in advance |
| Purpose | Fix problem or restore fault | Prevent national grid collapse |
| Impact | Frustration and inconvenience | National power-balancing strategy |
Why does this happen? Several factors converge in Kenya’s case:
- Demand outstripping supply: Kenya’s generation and transmission capacity have been under increasing stress. Reserve margins are thin and the gap between peak demand and available firm supply is narrowing.
- Transmission bottlenecks and grid constraints: Even when generation exists, getting that power reliably to all areas can fail due to ageing infrastructure, overloaded lines or weak grid architecture.
- Intermittency in generation mix: Kenya’s renewable-heavy generation (geothermal, hydro, wind, solar) means supply can drop fast when one resource under‐performs or during evening hours when solar wanes.
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So what does load shedding look like in practice for a Kenyan household? It may mean scheduled outages of a few hours in the evening, rotating through different neighbourhoods so no one area is always off. The idea is to limit disruption while protecting the national grid. While the term “load shedding” may be new to many Kenyans, the concept, controlled rationing of electricity is what utilities use when the system is under threat.
