Power Outages Threaten Lives of Patients Dependent on Oxygen Support in Rural Kenya

Date: May 15, 2025

Location: Kiptagich, Kuresoi South Sub-county, Nakuru County

In the quiet village of Kiptagich, 76-year-old Jane Ruto faces a daily battle for survival. After her lungs failed, she became reliant on an oxygen support machine to breathe. However, the frequent power outages in the region have turned her home into a perilous environment.

Jane’s oxygen machine consumes a significant amount of electricity, and the erratic power supply means she often goes without the life-sustaining oxygen she needs. Her family has resorted to using costly diesel generators to keep the machine running during outages, but this is not a sustainable solution.

This situation is not unique to Jane. Across Kenya, many patients dependent on electrically powered medical equipment face similar challenges. A report by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) highlighted that increasing input costs in the production and distribution of medical oxygen are causing shortages in public health facilities, leading to preventable deaths.

The government’s efforts to address these issues have included directives to end power outages and plans to unbundle the transmission line system to prevent nationwide blackouts. However, implementation has been slow, and many rural areas continue to suffer from unreliable electricity supply.

In some cases, families have taken desperate measures. In Mtwapa, Kilifi County, a family brought their ailing relative, who depended on a nebulizer, to Kenya Power offices after a prolonged blackout left them without options.

Healthcare facilities are also struggling. The Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital reported on March 28, 2025, that power outages and staff shortages have hindered services for critically ill patients, forcing them to discharge ICU patients directly to general wards. The hospital’s High Dependency Unit remains underutilized due to these challenges.(Kenya News)

The situation underscores the urgent need for investment in reliable power infrastructure and medical oxygen supply systems, especially in rural areas. Without immediate action, patients like Jane Ruto remain at constant risk, their lives hanging in the balance with every power outage.

References:

• “Can’t Breathe: Why Thousands of Kenyan Patients Are Dying” – Nation Africa
• “Ministry of Energy Directed to End Power Outages” – President.go.ke
• “Patient on Life Support Dropped at Kenya Power Offices Over Constant Outages” – Kenyans.co.ke
• “Power Outages and Shortage of Staff Hinders Services for Critically Ill” – Kenya News Agency