The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives, on Monday, June 19, launched a manhunt for a suspect accused of vandalising Kenya Power equipment worth Ksh11 million in Kiambu County.
DCI recovered the assortment in a scrap metal yard allegedly operated by the suspect in Ndenderu.
Among the items seized were transformers, conductors, and other electrical materials set to be sold to the scrap metal yard owner.
"The recovery made last night followed a raid at a scrap metal yard owned by the suspect, who has since gone into hiding following the recovery of transformer fuses and pilon bindings.
"We also recovered transformer laminations, shells, and high tension cables among other equipment vandalised from power lines," the statement by the DCI added.
One suspect was arrested during the raid as efforts to arrest the main culprit intensified.
Recovery of the equipment, according to DCI, was a major breakthrough in their ongoing crackdown on the vandalism of critical infrastructure.
Members of the public were also urged to report any suspicious activity to the police through the various communication channels shared on their Twitter accounts.
Detectives noted that vandalism contributed to major power blackouts in Nairobi and Rift Valley regions.
The DCI launched a crackdown on scrap metal dealers after Energy Cabinet Secretary, Davis Chirchir, raised the alarm on rising cases of vandalism.
Several dealers were arrested and arraigned in court, with detectives recovering property worth millions of shillings.
In 2022, Kenya Power lost Ksh.1.5 billion to vandalism which is punishable by a fine not exceeding Ksh1 million or a maximum one-year jail term.
