Kenya Power engineers at work. [Photo/businessdailyafrica.com]
Eight people were arrested over the weekend following enhanced operations launched by Kenya Power security team to stamp out illegal lines and theft of power distribution equipment.
Five suspects namely Joseph Ndirangu Kangethe, Josphat Ndungu Ngugi, Geoffrey Kangethe Njoroge, Daniel Kimani Mureu and Joseph Mwangi Njoroge were arrested at Githioro area of Muranga County on Saturday while attempting to steal a Kenya Power pole.
They were booked at Kirwara Police Station and are set to appear before Kandara Law Courts.
Yesterday, Kenya Power security personnel in South Nyanza nabbed Daniel Mogere, Haron Masenge and Nelson Okechi for the offence of vandalism of electrical apparatus at Nyansore area.
The suspects were booked at Nyamarembe Police Station and are expected to take a plea today. During the operation, aluminum conductors, climbing iron, pliers and tester were recovered.
In a similar operation carried out on illegal lines at Ikoba area of Kisii County, three poles, five cables and ten meters were recovered.
Elsewhere, following the heightened crackdown on theft of electrical equipment, 1,300 meters of aluminum conductors, four cables and 2 prepaid meters were recovered at Salama and Nunguni areas in Makueni County on Saturday.
Similarly, an operation on illegal lines in Magumu, Nyandarua County recovered 8 spans of conductors, six drop cables and 11 prepaid meters.
Kenya Power will continue carrying out close surveillance on the network across the country to curb vandalism and other vices that negatively impact on the power distribution system.
The Company is working with the Police, local administration and locals to carry out this exercise. Those found culpable will be arrested and charged in court.
Apart from the immediate loss of supply to customers, vandalism negatively affects the Company’s revenue and leads to an unnecessary capital cost for replacing the destroyed equipment.