Streetlight poles and cables Worth over Sh4 Million vandalized in Nakuru

Mercy Kahenda
Posted on: 25th Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT +0300

Street poles and cables along the busy Nakuru-Eldoret highway valued at Sh4 million have been vandalised.

The incidents happened before CAF Construction Ltd that has been constructing three interchanges along the highway handed over the roads to Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).

CAF resident engineer Joseph Githaiga said criminals vandalised street poles and cables at Mau Summit before installation of electricity by Kenya Power.

The resident engineer said the criminals are suspected to have used grinders to cut the poles before selling them to scrap metal dealers in Kaptembwo slum.

Last week, he said at least four suspects were arrested and their case is ongoing at a Nakuru court.

The criminals, he said, were cutting the poles before transporting them to dealers using motorcycles.

“The poles were transported on motorcycles to Kaptwembwo were suspects were arrested. We are also investigating the dealers of various scrap metal to know where they get them,” said the resident engineer.

He said the contractor was expected to hand over the road interchanges to KeNHA this month but it now not possible following the vandalism.

“The contractor is now planning to replace stolen cables and poles. It is hectic because we need to place a budget,” he said.

A section of road signage along the newly constructed interchanges have also been vandalised.

KeNHA project engineer Paul Omondi warned locals against vandalism, saying the lighting was meant to curb accidents.

Street poles Nakuru-Eldoret highway Sh4 million KeNHA Mau Summit