Monkey causes nationwide blackout in Kenya

A nationwide blackout has hit Kenya, with authorities saying it was caused by a monkey tripping a transformer at a hydropower plant.

The incident led to the loss of more than 180 megawatts from the grid on Tuesday, taking its biggest toll on business, the Business Daily Africa website reported.

Kenya's biggest power producer KenGen said the monkey fell on a transformer at the Gitaru hydroelectric power station. The transformer then tripped, triggering a blackout across Kenya.

Power was restored almost four hours later and the monkey survived its adventure, authorities said, adding the animal was taken in by wildlife service officials. 

KenGen said its power installations are secured by electric fencing which keeps away marauding wild animals.

"We regret this isolated incident and the company is looking at ways of further enhancing security at all our power plants," KenGen said.

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