The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has arrested three individuals including a woman found in possession of 10 liters of transformer oil.
In a statement on Tuesday, October 24, the power company stated that the woman was among two other men arrested in Kisii and other Nyanza areas found vandalizing Kenya Power equipment.
According to the statement, the oil was stolen from a Kenya Power post-paid meter.
Moreover, a male suspect was arrested with suspected stolen Kenya Power equipment while the third suspect who was a scrap metal dealer, was found with assorted copper windings.
“Three people have been arrested in Kisii in connection with a spate of transformer vandalism in the area.
“The trio was nabbed in the general area of Oyugis, Mosocho, Nyakoe and Kisii Towns during an operation to rid the region of criminals vandalizing Kenya Power infrastructure,” the statement read in part.
Also Read: 5 Suspects Arrested Over Transformer Vandalism
Another Suspect Arrested in Kiambu County
At the same time, Kenya Power stated that police officers arrested a man in Kiambu in in connection to cases of transformer theft and vandalism.
Additionally, the institution through the police officers asked the Kiambu Law Court to allow them to hold the suspect for fourteen days to conclude investigations.
The man was a driver of a vehicle that was found transporting a 200KVA transformer, which had been stolen from Riabai trading center.
“This followed an intelligence-driven operation led by security officers and local law enforcement officers that saw an Isuzu lorry intercepted. Inside the vehicle was
“The driver was immediately apprehended, and the lorry towed to Kiambu Police Station,” added the statement.
Kenya Power on Action Against Suspects
Further, KPLC stated that the suspects were taken to Kisii police station and were set to appear before the Kisi Law Courts on October 25.
Moreover, the power distributor stated that it would act against the suspects as guided by the Energy Act
“The three, who are now in police custody at the Kisii Police Station, will appear before a Kisii law court on Wednesday, October 25 to answer various offenses as per the Energy Act.
Also Read: Keep Us Out of the Blackout – KPLC Told
“We urge the community to be on the lookout for any suspicious activities around electrical infrastructure and to report any incidents of this kind,” added KPLC.
Countrywide crackdown
On April 5, the power company brought to light increased cases of transformer vandalism in the country causing power outages.
Further, it noted that criminals had resorted to sabotage efforts to restore supply by emergency teams as they removed fuses from the newly replaced transformers.
The power company launched a crackdown on vandalism in the country promising to apprehend all criminals caught in the act.
Data from Kenya power indicates that 16% of illegal connections and 9% of deliberate acts including vandalism are among the leading causes of electrocutions.
