Frequent power outages affecting government operations in Lodwar have been linked to unpaid electricity bills at Lodwar County and Referral Hospital, Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus has revealed.
Speaking during a live interview, Dr. Erus said the hospital and the county headquarters are connected to the same electricity supply system- meaning any disconnection over unpaid bills at the hospital affects both facilities simultaneously.
“When the hospital’s utilities are not settled, the entire system is affected,” he explained, effectively confirming why administrative offices have repeatedly gone dark.
The revelation has raised fresh questions over infrastructure planning and accountability within the county government.
Dr. Erus did not, however, clarify why the two critical facilities were linked to a single power supply, or under what policy framework the arrangement was implemented.
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Unconfirmed reports suggest the decision may have originated from a Senate-driven accountability measure. The alleged aim was to prevent scenarios where administrative offices continue operating with electricity while essential health facilities remain in darkness.
Under such an arrangement, shared power infrastructure would compel county authorities to prioritise utility payments for critical institutions like hospitals.
Kenya’s devolved governance system places healthcare services under county governments, while the Senate of Kenya is mandated to oversee counties and ensure effective service delivery.
Despite the shared system, Dr. Erus stressed that the hospital must independently meet its financial obligations to avoid recurring disruptions.
The outages have disrupted both healthcare services and administrative operations, raising concerns among residents about the sustainability of such an arrangement- especially in a region already grappling with multiple challenges.
