Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has blamed illegal connection and reliance on unlicensed technicians on the increasing fires incidences in schools and homes as a result of electric faults.
Kisumu KPLC manager, Dan Obiero on Tuesday said a majority of homes, businesses enterprises and schools in Homabay, Kisumu and Siaya counties were involved in most cases of power cable vandalism.
He said there had been a lot of fatalities in the counties and asked the power consumers to seek helped from certified electricians.
“We receive most reports about accidents and mostly when we find out that connections are interfered with,” said Mr Obiero.
Speaking in Kisumu during a public sensitization forum at Muslim View Hotel, Mr Obiero added that the power supplier is running a program in which all the primary schools in the country will be educated on electricity use and precautions.
The sensitization programs has been registered all over the country so that the information can reach everyone.
“Currently, there are 700 sites across the country and 252 sites are still under construction guarded by outsourced security providers,” said the security manager, Zachary Ombati, a power safety officer.
“Western Region has more than 30 sites,” he said.
John Guda, the safety and environmental manager, said that the program has been of help to many people as the cases of vandalism has decreased.