Nairobi, Aug. 3 -- Electricity imports from Ethiopia and Uganda overtake local wind generation as the country increasingly relies on neighbouring nations to starve off blackouts and power rationing.

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) data show electricity imports reached 813.94 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), or units, between January and May, surpassing wind generation of 736.8 million kWh.

This emerged in a period when Kenya has witnessed increases demand for electricity amid a freeze on new power purchase deals.

Electricity imports rose 25.1 percent from a year earlier while wind output fell 4.8 percent, according to the official data.

North-neighbouring Ethiopia drove most of the increase, exporting 675.89 million kWh to Ken...