Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has announced the death of one of its employees, Shadrack Makembo, who was attacked while on duty in the Checheles area near Isiolo Town.
In a statement on Friday, April 10, Kenya Power said the staff member received emergency treatment at the scene before being airlifted to Nairobi for specialized care; however, he later succumbed to his injuries.
“Kenya Power deeply regrets to announce the passing of one of our staff members, Mr. Shadrack Makembo, who was attacked on Thursday while on duty at Checheles area near Isiolo Town. Despite receiving emergency treatment at the incident area and later being airlifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment, Mr. Makembo sadly succumbed to his injuries,” read part of the statement.
The company extended condolences to the deceased’s family, friends, and colleagues, noting that it is supporting them during the mourning period.
Report on the Incident
According to the company, preliminary findings indicated that the attack may be linked to suspected fraudulent electricity consumption at the premises where the incident occurred.
Kenya Power condemned the act and said it is working with security agencies to apprehend a suspect identified as Sheik Mayo, who remains at large.
The company further noted that the incident is not isolated, stating that some of its staff have previously been attacked while on duty.
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It warned that such acts are unacceptable and called for enhanced protection of employees working in the field.
Kenya Power added that it remains committed to safeguarding its workers and will strengthen safety measures as it continues to deliver services across the country.
“We kindly urge our customers and the public to support our workforce as they serve communities across the country,” read part of the statement.
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Kenya Power Field Officer Assaulted in Isiolo
On April 9, Kenya Power issued a statement confirming the assault of one of its field officers, a meter reader, who was attacked while on duty.
KPLC added that the matter had been reported to authorities for investigation, noting that the incident reflects a worrying trend of assaults targeting its staff during field operations.
Kenya Power further urged customers and the public to support its workforce as they continue delivering services across the country.
The attack comes after Kenya Power urged customers to grant its staff access to electricity meters and meter boxes, including opening them where necessary, as it rolls out a new Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system for meter reading.
In March, the company assured customers that all staff visiting premises would carry official identification cards bearing their staff numbers and national IDs for verification.
