Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi and Likoni MP
Mishi Mboko at Mphwakani in Shika Adabu, Likoni on Monday /BRIAN OTIENO
Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi has warned against vandalism of power installations, saying the acts amount to economic sabotage and could attract life imprisonment.
Wandayi said the country loses hundreds of millions of shillings annually due to the destruction of transformers, wires and other utilities.
“Electricity will enable residents to do business and uplift the local economy. Many more projects are coming, but I ask one thing—protect these installations as your own property,” the CS said.
Speaking on Monday at Mwakani in Shika Adabu ward in Likoni, Mombasa county, the CS said a few individuals were sabotaging vital infrastructure for selfish gain.
“Stop it! Stealing electricity wires, transformers and other installations is a serious offence. Working with different agencies, we have launched operations to nab these vandals,” Wandayi said.
In 2023 alone, 365 transformers worth Sh328 million were vandalised, while between January and May 2024, another 78 had been destroyed. The losses, he said, inflate the cost of operations and push up the prices of goods and services.
The Energy Act 2019 prescribes a fine of Sh5 million or a five-year jail term for tampering with electricity installations, though proposals are underway to increase penalties to serve as stronger deterrents.
Wandayi said despite being a city, parts of Mombasa had been neglected in the past, but the Kenya Kwanza administration was determined to reverse the trend.
“That is why we must thank President William Ruto and his government. If it were not for him, this area would never have seen electricity,” he said.
Likoni MP Mishi Mboko welcomed the ongoing electrification drive, saying areas such as Mwakani, Shonda and Maweni had already benefited.
The MP noted that projects for Dongo Kundu, Pungu Villa A and B, Vimani, Kwa Mhindi and Kibakani were in the pipeline, adding that institutions such as Mishi Mboko Girls Secondary School had delayed in opening a boarding section due to a lack of power.
“No area in Shika Adabu will be without electricity anymore,” she assured.
Mboko, however, cautioned residents against vandalism, warning that it would reverse the gains and chase away investors.
She pointed out that the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone already has 15 investors lined up who will require large volumes of power.
“If we destroy power installations, we will not have enough energy to run factories in Dongo Kundu SEZ,” she said.
She appealed to the CS to address power outages caused by low supply in Mtongwe, Kibaki estate, Kibundani and Shonda B, saying residents in those areas experienced frequent blackouts.
The MP also urged quarry workers and other locals in need of electricity to seek proper connections through Kenya Power instead of turning to illegal and dangerous hookups.
Instant Analysis:
Kenya continues to grapple with the vandalism of power installations despite harsh penalties. According to the State of National Security report tabled in Parliament last year, Kenya Power lost 110 transformers worth Sh137 million between September 1, 2023 and August 31, 2024. The losses not only disrupt electricity supply but also escalate operational costs, feeding into higher commodity prices. With the government’s push to attract investment into zones like Dongo Kundu, ensuring the security of power infrastructure is critical. Stronger community involvement, stiffer penalties, and faster responses to vandalism may be necessary to curb the vice.
