Criminal gangs have vandalised transformers worth Sh4 million in three months in Murang’a county.
Kenya Power branch manager Harrison Kamau said nine transformers have been vandalised, causing power supply disruptions in various parts of the county.
He said the manner in which the theft is undertaken indicates that a cartel is behind it.
The vandals, Kamau said, push the transformers to the ground, where they then cut them open to access the copper inside.
“All our transformers are welded, so the only way they can access it is to push it to the ground. They then use metal cutting equipment to dismantle it,” he said.
Kamau said the thieves have the technical know-how of causing power blackouts to protect themselves from electrocution while vandalising the transformers.
“In Kandundu village near Murang’a town, they caused a night-long blackout after they vandalised a transformer,” he said.
He said many technicians know how power systems work, but exonerated his staff, whom he said are aware of the consequences of stealing from the company.
The manager appealed to residents to promptly report any suspicious activities they spot near transformers.
A few years back, newly installed street lights were vandalised in most shopping centres in the town, plunging the areas into darkness and frustrating efforts to foster a 24-hour economy.
In 2019, more than 150 street lights worth millions of shillings were vandalised in the county.
The thieves were targeting the new type of lights, sparking suspicions that they had a ready market for them.
The street lights had reduced the rate of crime, and their theft impacted local businesses negatively.
The previous year, vandals broke into the Sh2 billion Metumi power plant constructed by Kiru, Gatunguru, Kanyenya-ini and Githambo tea factories in upper Mathioya and made away with imported equipment worth Sh20 million.
The thieves cut through the door and window grills to access the plant before kidnapping security guards and dumping them in Thika.
But Kamau said the current crop of thieves are targeting a cable used in the installation of street lights and not the lights themselves.
The cables, he said, are being used for domestic wiring in homes.
Kamau further put on notice residents who use power without meters, saying they risk being prosecuted.
“We are asking those with illegal power connections to come to our offices and we will have metres installed in their homes,” he said.
He said theft of power equipment is an economic crime and that suspects are liable for a jail term of not less than 10 years and a fine of Sh5 million.
Edited by A.N
