Nakuru Chief Magistrate Court has sentenced a man to 30 years in jail with an alternative of a Ksh15 million fine after being found guilty of vandalizing Kenya Power property worth Ksh60,000.
The court ruled that the convict was found in possession of a 600-meter electric conductor belonging to the power transmission company.
According to Kenya Power, in a statement shared on Wednesday, August 2, detectives arrested the man with the equipment at Stoo Mbili Township in Njoro County on July 26, 2023.
He was thus charged with three counts - vandalism of energy equipment and infrastructure, stealing energy equipment, and unlawfully handling energy equipment - contrary to section 169 of the Energy Act of 2019.
The Act states that a person who wilfully vandalises or attempts to vandalise energy installations and infrastructure, steals or attempts to steal any energy equipment or appliance or handles any energy equipment or appliance commits an offence deemed an economic crime.
“Upon conviction, the person is liable to a fine of not less than Ksh5 million shillings or to a term of imprisonment of 10 years or to both,” the Act states.
The sentence was issued seven days after another suspect was arrested at Timau town within Meru and arraigned at Nanyuki Law Courts, where he was sentenced to 10 years in prison with the option of a Ksh5 million fine.
Speaking on the judgement, Kenya Power Acting Security Services Manager Paul Nyaga noted that it will deter similar crimes.
“Through collaboration with various government institutions, the company has scaled up surveillance on its infrastructure in order to stamp out illegal activities from the network.
“I wish to thank the Judiciary for the support that they have accorded this important exercise and call on the public to join this fight by reporting any suspicious activities on the network to the nearest police station or Kenya Power offices,” Nyaga stated.
Kenya Power further warned Kenyans against stealing electric cables emphasising that they not only risked jail term but also being electrocuted.
“In addition, these crimes compromise the quality of power supply and lead to loss of revenue by the company,” the transmission company cautioned.
