At least 30 buildings constructed under high voltage power lines in Nakuru County have been demolished in an operation carried out by the Kenya Power.

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The company had issued a notice to residents in the affected areas to remove illegal structures to create a safe space for maintenance of the lines.

Some of the home and business owners had complied over the notices and pulled down the illegal structures built on power wayleaves.

Kenya Power Central Rift Wayleave Officer Daisy Chumba said the operation will continue as they target to demolish 50 more buildings.

Chumba said the power company will seek to reclaim encroached land adding that some owners of homes and businesses in Nakuru have encroached on its wayleaves.

The official said residents and business owners who will be affected by the operation will not be compensated.

“Among Kenya Power’s five control centres countrywide, Nakuru’s is the most affected by encroachment,” said Chumba as quoted by the Standard.

She said the illegal structures being targeted are built on a 6.5-kilometre stretch from Keptembwo to Lanet Power Station.

The Wayleave Officer said that the structures on the 132,000 volts power wayleave pose a health risk to the residents due to the strong magnetic fields.

William Kendagor, KPC's regional officer in charge of security, said some of the residents have ignored warnings and notices to vacate affected areas despite the company carrying out sensitisation campaigns.

“Fuel transported by the pipeline is dangerous. This is why we cannot allow locals to trade along the wayleave,” said Kendagor.