Kenya Power Increases Measures To Prevent Bird Electrocution
Kenya Power has increased its measures to prevent birds from being electrocuted by power lines in order to maintain the country's natural heritage.
Lydia Kadima 
On Monday, Kenya Power said in a statement that it had taken numerous steps to address the situation, including installing perching deterrents and re-configuring power lines to lessen the risk of electrocution.
The decision was made after studies found that birds, particularly large-bodied species, are at risk of electrocution as a result of the building of additional power lines as energy consumption rises.
The affected birds such as Pelicans, Owls, Flamingos, Cranes, and Marabou Storks have been seen in Naivasha, Kinangop, Dandora, Nakuru, and Magadi, where the trend has been noticed.
To avert the deaths of Flamingos and Pelicans in the Lake Nakuru National Park, 33kV power has been re-routed to allow ample clearance for the birds when they take off or land.
In Kinangop, work is underway to alter the design of a 3-kilometer power line in order to provide enough room for endangered Grey Crested African Cranes to fly freely.
Reflector balls have also been installed on pylon tops, pole tops, and substation structures at the Juja Road and Magadi Soda substations to keep Marabou Storks from perching on the facilities.
In addition, the Juja Road substation has been upgraded to a Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) to reduce the risk of electrocution of birds in the Dandora region.
Engineer Geoffrey Muli, Kenya Power's Managing Director, said the business has been in constant conversations and engagements with other agencies on power line retrofitting.
"The Company will partner with environmental conservation organizations and government agencies to carry out research on the impact of power lines on wildlife in order to come up with feasible and viable recommendations to minimize the impact on the environment and the utility’s infrastructure,” said the engineer.
