Power Explosion at University of Nairobi, Kikuyu Campus

Kenya Power has said the explosion that occurred this morning at the University of Nairobi, Kikuyu Campus, was caused by an overloaded underground cable and not a transformer as reported by sections of the media.

 

Speaking at the scene, the Company's Managing Director and CEO, Dr Ben Chumo, said preliminary observations indicated that the cable, which is owned and managed by the institution, carried electric power way above its capacity at the time of the incident causing it to blow up.

 

While absolving the Company from blame, Dr Chumo said Kenya Power will help the university install a new cable and transformer with higher capacity to meet growing demand in the institution.

The explosion, which occurred near one of the university's populous hostels, caused panic among the students where some jumped out of the storey building through the windows while others were caught in a stampede while trying to exit the hostel.

 

The University's Principal, Prof Isaac Jumba said 138 students were injured  during the incident, seven of them in critical condition and are admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital and Kikuyu's PCEA Hospital. Most of the students have been treated and discharged. 

 

Addressing students after the inspecting the area, Dr Chumo said Kenya Power will meet part of the medical bill as a goodwill gesture.