A Kenya Power technician works on a transformer in Nyeri. The sentence comes just days after a vandal was killed by irate villagers in a failed attempt to vandalise a transformer at Gichocho in Ndumberi, Kiambu County. PHOTO | FILE
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The sentence is a boost to efforts to curb vandalism of transformers and other power transmission and distribution assets.
Three men alleged to have vandalised Kenya Power transformers have been sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Nyahururu court.
John Ndirangu, Weldon Tonui and Geoffrey Yegon were arrested on November 26, 2014 at Kahiga trading centre with copper windings extracted from a vandalised transformer at Tetu Farm in Subukia.
The sentence is a boost to efforts to curb vandalism of transformers and other power transmission and distribution assets.
“We welcome the court’s action and hope that the sentence will send a strong message to other vandals out there. When we have criminals serving longer terms in prison it eases the burden of fighting vandalism,” said Major Geoffrey Kigen (Rtd), Acting Security Services Manager at Kenya Power.
The sentence comes just days after a vandal was killed by irate villagers in a failed attempt to vandalise a transformer at Gichocho in Ndumberi, Kiambu County.
The electricity distribution firm has enhanced surveillance on electricity assets through internal resources and community policing initiatives.
The company is also positioning transformers above live wires in a bid to ward off vandals, who expose the firm to losses in the millions of shillings.
Various approaches towards the fight saw a stark drop in vandalism in 2013 with 535 transformers vandalised countrywide from 898 in 2011, according to reports by Reuters quoting Kenya Power.
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