A Meru court has sentenced a man to 6 years in prison for vandalism and handling of stolen Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) electricity equipment.
In a statement by Kenya Power, the accused, was arraigned before Tigania Law Courts Senior Resident Magistrate Hon. Ongira.
“He had earlier been arrested within Meru County for vandalising and stealing earthing and other electrical equipment,” KPLC noted.
At the time of his arrest, the man was found with the equipment hidden in his rabbits’ hutch.
Further, in a similar ruling on Monday, November 6, a Kisumu Court sentenced a man to 20 years for vandalism.
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The man was condemned to 20 years in prison for twelve counts of transformer vandalism, stealing and handling stolen electricity equipment.
He was suspected to be the mastermind of transformer vandalism within Kisumu County, particularly Ahero, Rabuor, Nyakach and Seme.
Additionally, he will serve his jail term while attending a similar vandalism case before a Nyamira court.
KPLC on electricity equipment vandalism
On the issue, Kenya Power’s Acting Security Services Manager Stephen Muoka termed the ruling a big boost to the Company’s effort to crack down on vandalism, theft of electricity and other illegal activities within the network.
“We have scaled up surveillance on the network to get rid of any illegal activities that endanger the lives of the public and deny revenue to the Company,” Stephen Muoka stated.
Further, he acknowledged the court’s support in the arraignment of the victims.
“We thank the Judiciary for the support they have accorded us, which we are confident will go a long way to deter criminals,” Stephen Muoka said.
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In addition to regular security operations, the Company is working in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies and the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), to carry out inspection of the network and critical installations to fight vandalism and theft of electricity.
Notably, according to the Kenya Law, under Section 64(4) of the Energy Act No. 12 of 2006, the offence of vandalism is punishable by a fine not exceeding Kshs. 1,000,000 or a maximum term of imprisonment of one year.
The offence of stealing on the other hand is also outlined in the laws of the land.
“Any person who steals anything capable of being stolen is guilty of the felony termed theft and is liable, unless owing to the circumstances of the theft or the nature of the thing stolen some other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for three years,” the Act stipulates.
