A Nakuru Chief Magistrate court has sentenced a man to 30 years in prison or a fine of KShs. 15 million for vandalizing a 600-metre electric conductor valued at KShs. 60,000.
The suspect, Edwin Kiplangat Ngeno, was arrested on 26th July 2023 in possession of the conductor at Stoo Mbili township in the Njoro sub-county within Nakuru county.
He appeared before Hon. A.P Ndege and was charged with three counts; vandalism of energy equipment and infrastructure, stealing of energy equipment and unlawfully handling of energy equipment, contrary to section 169 of the Energy Act of 2019.
Kenya Power’s Ag. Security Services Manager Maj. Paul Nyaga Gichovi (Rtd.) has since welcomed the judgment saying it will go a long way to 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 office,” he said.
Loss of revenue
Vandalism and theft of electricity pose a danger of loss of life through electrocution to the vandal and other people who are exposed to the sub-standard power connections.
In addition, these crimes compromise the quality of the power supply and lead to a loss of revenue by the Company.
The latest sentence comes barely a week after a Nanyuki law court sentenced a man to 10 years in prison or a fine of KShs. 5 million for vandalizing a customer’s electricity meter board at Riverside estate in Timau town, Meru County.
The suspect, Brian Wahome, was arrested and booked at Timau police station before he was arraigned at Nanyuki law courts, where he was charged with stealing energy equipment contrary to section 169 (1) (c) of the Energy Act 2019.
He pleaded guilty and was handed the sentence by Lisper Gakii Nyaga, the resident magistrate at Nanyuki law courts. At the time of his arrest, Wahome was found in possession of two cutouts, a switch, as well as the meter board.
