Energy principal secretary, Alex Wachira, on Tuesday, June 13, led a police operation on a multinational company in Athi River accused of illegally trading in scrap metals.
After the raid, the PS indicated that the police recovered key infrastructure allegedly stolen from Kenya Power.
In particular, Wachira revealed that the company - run by a Chinese national - had fuses traced to stolen transformers.
In line with the discovery, the Athi River-based company's licences were revoked for failing to report to the police that they were in possession of KPLC equipment.
Police also arrested the company owner, who was accused of economic sabotage.
According to the PS, the raid was critical to the government's plan to expose cartel in the scrap metal business, making the utility firm run into losses.
"There are those who destroy the nation we are building. We have suspended the licence of this factory as we charge them in court.
"It will remain closed as we continue with investigations," the PS stated, as further reports indicated that the multinational company was also raided in May 2023. Police reportedly recovered stolen copper metals in the undercover operation.
On the other hand, Wachira warned that the government would closely monitor the copper and aluminium export business to curb the vice.
He also cautioned that foreigners risked being deported if found capable of interfering with key government infrastructure.
"If you are exporting aluminium and copper, you need to tell us where you are mining it from. If possible, we want the person deported. We are being pushed to ban aluminium and copper trade," he added.
On May 20, Energy CS Davis Chirchir revealed that the government would consider reintroducing the ban on scrap metal dealings previously imposed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The CS lamented that several Kenyans suffered power outages due to stolen transformers.
"You are fighting a government with an army, and a police force, and one making laws. If we decide to wind up this sector we can do that in one day," the CS threatened.
