This archive report was first published on 25 December 2019.
On Christmas Day, a woman tragically lost her life in a public bathroom at Laini Saba in Nairobi's Kibra slum. The incident occurred while she was taking a shower, and it has brought to the forefront the issue of illegal power connections in the area.
According to Andrew Musaisi, the Kibra AP boss, Kenya Power officials were notified to disconnect the power for smooth retrieval of the body. This incident is not an isolated case, as many residents in the slum have had to live with regular fire incidents, which they believe are occasioned by electric faults due to irregular connections.
Illegal power connections have been blamed for fire incidents in many slums, including Korogocho, where uninsulated electricity cables hang dangerously in people's houses. In fact, most residents say they have grown up being taught not to touch any wire they see, not even clothes lines, due to the dangers posed by these cables.
As reported in May, Nairobi County Deputy Director Fire Rescue and Disaster Management Brian Esali stated that most of these fire incidents are caused by electric faults. However, KPLC Communication Director Kevin Sang refuted these claims, stating that most of the fire incidents are not due to electric faults, but rather the actions of cartels who connect electricity and sell to consumers.
Kenya Power is working with the slum community and police to rid the areas of such cartels. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for safe and regulated power connections in the slums.
