Man to serve 30 years in jail for vandalising Kenya Power equipment

A Nakuru court has sentenced a man to 30 years in prison or pay a fine of Sh15 million for vandalising Kenya Power equipment.

Edwin Kiplangat Ngeno was arrested by the public at Stoo Mbili Township in Njoro, Nakuru County, on July 26, 2023, after he was found with an electric conductor valued at Sh60,000.

His two accomplices managed to escape before Ngeno was locked up at Ndeffo Police Station.

The court heard that Ngeno has another pending case of vandalizing and stealing Kenya Power equipment.

Ngeno, who appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndege, had been charged with three counts of vandalism of energy equipment and infrastructure, stealing of energy equipment and unlawfully handling of energy equipment.

Kenya Power, in a statement on Wednesday, said another suspect was arrested in Timau town, Meru County, a week ago over similar charges. The suspect was arraigned before a Nanyuki court where he was sentenced to 10 years in prison with the option of a Sh5 million fine.

KPLC Acting Security Services Manager Maj Paul Nyaga Gichovi (Rtd) welcomed the judgments saying they will go a long way in deterring similar crimes.

Gichovi said through collaboration with various government institutions, the power company has scaled up surveillance on its infrastructure to check illegal activities.

“I wish to thank the Judiciary for the support they have accorded this important exercise and call on the public to join this fight by reporting any suspicious activities on the network to the nearest police station or Kenya Power office,” he said.

Vandalism and theft of electricity equipment, he noted, pose a danger of loss of life through electrocution to the vandal and other people who are exposed to the sub-standard power connections.

In addition, the crimes he said compromised the quality of the power supply and lead to a loss of revenue by the Company.