The Cabanas area in Nairobi's Eastern bypass has been targeted by the vandals, who steal and sell the metals to scrap metal dealers. [Photo/CapitalFM]
Police in Pangani, Nairobi is holding a suspect linked with vandalism of guard rails, along the Eastern bypass and parts of the highway, near Cabanas.
The vandals have been stealing the metals and selling them to scrap metal dealers in Nairobi.
The Eastern bypass is the most affected, with Cabanas area most hit.
However, the proverbial 40 days of a thief came to an abrupt end for one man in Pangani, who has been buying such metals from the rogue operators.
Pangani police station officers, who were working on a tip-off from the public, busted the cartel, which has been operating for a long while now.
At the store in Ngara, the plain-clothed officers recovered street light poles, guard rails, manhole covers, sewer covers, power installations, and street signs.
The suspect at the store told officers that the rails are sold at Sh70 a kilogram.
“I am not the one selling, I am only here to sell, I have a boss,” said the suspect.
The rate at which the vandalism has occurred is worrying with most roads affected by criminals who take advantage of nights ‘cover.