The owner of an eatery from Ol Kalau Trading Centre in Nyandarau County was sentenced to serve two years in prison for using transformer oil at a restaurant he owned.
In the ruling made by the Engineer Law Courts on Thursday, March 2, the man was also found guilty of repackaging the oil as popcorn cooking oil for sale.
He was, as a result, sentenced to two years in prison or pay an alternative fine of Ksh200,000 following his arrest in December 2021 while in possession of 11 litres of transformer oil.
His co-accused, from whom he had obtained the transformer oil, was handed a 10-year sentence or a fine of Ksh10 million for vandalising a 100kVA transformer.
"This ruling is a big boost to the Company's effort to fight transformer vandalism as the stiff penalties and jail terms will deter vandals," stated Kenya Power's acting Manager for Security Services Paul Nyaga (Rtd).
According to the court, the co-accused was in violation of section 169 (1) of the Energy Act of 2019 which covers the offences deemed to be economic crimes.
"Anyone who commits an offence which is deemed to be an economic crime and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine of not less than Ksh5 million or to a term of imprisonment of 10 years or both," read the act in parts.
Kenya Power hailed the ruling adding that more measures were put in place through partnerships with other security agencies in order to stamp out illegal activities and safeguard electricity assets.
"Vandalism of transformers is one of the leading causes of power outages," read part of a statement from the institution dated Thursday, March 2.
In addition, Kenya Power emphasised that transformer vandalism poses a risk of electrocution and exposes the company to financial losses in lost sales and the cost of replacing the transformers.
The sentence came days after cartels supplying oil to chips mwitu vendors were arrested in Kiambu County during a raid.
According to Kiambu County Police Commander Perminus Kioi, the suspects had terrorised Kiambu residents almost causing a total blackout.
