The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday raided the home of a suspect accused of colluding with former Kenya Power employees to steal cables and transformers causing blackouts.
During the raid conducted on Wednesday, DCI recovered electricity transformers, cables, and other electrical equipment.
The raid was conducted by DCI officers from the Crime Research & Intelligence Bureau alongside investigators based at the Kenya Power.
The suspect was hiding the stolen goods at a palatial home in Mutonguni, Machakos County, where five sacks of vandalised aluminum wires were recovered.
"A dedicated team of officers from the Directorate is working closely with investigators based at the electricity distribution company, to stem this vice once and for all," DCI stated.
The officials reported that Kenya Power had recorded over 220 incidents of vandalism in the country with Machakos County among the most affected.
Kenya Power complained that it had lost millions due to the increased vandalism that resulted in unnecessary blackouts.
Investigators from Kenya Power revealed that the suspect was among the crooked third-party agents who were in cohorts with its former employees.
The suspects vandalise the electricity infrastructure in select areas then pose as Kenya Power agents and reconnect the power to earn money from unsuspecting consumers.
"In the well-orchestrated transgression, the thugs would sabotage efforts by KPLC to restore power supply by removing fuses from transformers, immediately the KPLC emergency teams had left the sites. This was done in a bid to frustrate consumers further so that they would yield to their demands," the power company disclosed.
Vandalism on government property, especially transformers and railway lines, has increased as rogue Kenyans sell scrap metals to illegal dealers.
"Should you have any information regarding vandalism of any critical national infrastructure, report to DCI," the authorities advised.
