How Kenya teetered on the brink of widespread power rationing

Kenya’s electricity reserve margin—the extra power generation capacity available above peak demand—was wiped out in June 2026, reaching -1.5 percent, increasing the risk of widespread power rationing and blackouts. Kenya Power revealed that this shortage could cause inconvenience and higher operating costs for businesses seeking alternative power sources. The situation threatens the stability of the national power grid, forcing Kenya to increase electricity imports to prevent large-scale outages.