A single monkey, Tuesday, caused a nationwide blackout in Kenya after it fell onto a transformer at the Gitaru hydroelectric power station.
The electricity provider KenGen said in a statement that the transformer then tripped, resulting in the loss of 180 megawatts of power and triggering a blackout across Kenya. Power was restored almost four hours later and the monkey survived its adventure, KenGen said. It has now been taken in by the Kenya Wildlife Service.

The monkey appeared to be a vervet monkey, which is native to Kenya
“KenGen power installations are secured by electric fencing which keeps away marauding wild animals,” the statement said. “We regret this isolated incident and the company is looking at ways of further enhancing security at all our power plants.”

The Business Daily Africa website reported that businesses bore the brunt of Tuesday’s blackout. Many had installed generators as a result of previous blackouts, it said.-Agencies/State Media