• John Behailu said the interruptions have led to losses in business, loss of potential earnings and affected the public generally.
• Kenya Power, said in a statement of Thursday repairs have already started on the faulty generators to restore power supply as soon as possible.
Image: FILE
An Advocate has threatened to sue Kenya Power over continued interruption of power supply without notice in Marsabit.
John Behailu said the interruptions have led to losses in business, loss of potential earnings and affected the public generally.
"The level of power outage that we're experiencing here is outrageous. Businesses are incurring losses in tremendous amounts. Offices have closed. No services are being rendered," he said.
"Fish is going bad. The saloon operators and the barber shops have closed down. The milk in the storage facilities is going bad and we cannot fold our hands and continue watching as these things happen,” he added.
Marsabit town and its environs has been experiencing blackouts after power generators serving them broke down recently.
Kenya Power, however, noted that repairs have already started on the faulty generators to restore power supply as soon as possible.
"We regret to inform our customers in Marsabit that the electricity generators serving them broke this evening causing a power outage affecting the town and its environs," Kenya power said in a statement on Thursday.
Behailu said Kenya Power is the only legal entity allowed to provide electricity in Marsabit and has failed to discharge that mandate.
He said he intends to collect information from Marsabit residents with provable losses in order to sue the utility firm for breach of contractual obligations.
"When we pay for power, we expect power. This power outage is sending away investors from Marsabit town at an alarming rate. Hustlers are the ones who are bearing the brunt of this incompetence. And we're not going to sit down. We are going to take action. And Kenya power better be ready,” he said.
“We have had enough with these people. It's time for them to pay up. I'll take volunteers who wish to join the committee and I'll provide a guideline for data collection.”
Behailu further said the county has been having insecurity problems and the lack of power in the area is endangering the lives of people and the residents adding that they have given the company enough time to find a permanent solution.
"This thing has been ongoing for the past two months. It’s either one mechanical problem or promises that are not getting fulfilled," he said.
Last month, Marsabit experienced power outage p rompting day-long demonstrations in the town by residents.
The peaceful demonstrators led by MCAs and local leaders appealed to President William Ruto to personally address the problem saying their attempts to have the matter solved have failed to bear fruits.
The protesters also handed a written protest statement to the Marsabit county commissioner and Kenya Power management, complaining of business losses and a spike in crime.
They wanted the government to connect them to the national grid.