This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
KenGen's Olkaria V power plant is nearing completion, with the KSh40 billion project expected to generate an additional 165MW to the national grid once operational.
However, a safety incident on July 12th, 2019, at around 4 pm, left 10 workers injured. According to an official statement from KenGen, the accident was caused by a stampede triggered by the operation of high-pressure safety safeguards.
Unverified reports initially suggested a steam pipe burst as the cause of the injuries, but KenGen's statement clarified the circumstances of the incident.
Fortunately, 9 of the injured employees were treated and discharged, while one is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Nairobi. The incident occurred during preparations to step up power from 43MW to 65MW.
President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned the Olkaria V power plant in April 2017, and the project is now in its final stages of construction.
