Electricity distributor, Kenya power, has begun a crackdown against illegal connections in South Nyanza region.
Addressing the press during the launch of the crackdown in the company’s office in Kisii on Sunday, regional manager David Mugambi said anybody found engaged in illegal connections would be arrested and charged.
Mr Mugambi said the shortcut means of acquiring power caused power outages and loss of lives due to shoddy connections.
He warned residents against unscrupulous people supplying them power and urged them to process power connections at KPLC and said only staff from the company or Rural Electrification Authority and contracted personnel were allowed to work on power supply.
“We have had the challenges of power outages because of illegal supply of electricity that exceeds transformers. The crackdown is aimed at streamlining power connectivity and cut down losses incurred by the company through the illegal activity done by people masquerading to be our staff,” he said.
The manager warned staff members against engaging in criminal activities of supplying power to households without the consent of the company.
He said anybody found colluding with the cartels or residents will be immediately fired and charged.
He decried power theft was rampant and become a white collar crime but hoped to successfully tackle the challenge.
“We want 70 per cent of households in the region to have power connectivity by the year 2017," he said.
Mr Mugambi said the operation will go on till they recover all illegal lines constructed by a cartel conning people.
“Among the places we will take our crackdown to include Kisii, Nyamataro, Nyamarambe, Ogembo, Nyamira, Rongo and Migori. We have so far arrested two people whereby one who has been charged comes from Sengera Ward,” he said.
Kisii County KPLC manager, Chris Omwenga revealed that the cartel steal power equipments that they use to construct lines and supply power to households at a low cost.
“The cartels steal the equipment like poles and electrical wires from stations where we have put them for construction of power lines and they use them to carry out the ‘job’ on our behalf with paltry charges,” Mr Omwenga said.