KPLC decries cable vandalism in Gatanga, Murang'a

Kenya Power and Lighting Company has warned Kenyans over the increased vandalism of transformers across the country.

The company said in a statement on Tuesday that it has noted an increase in malicious damage to power cables. 

"Kenya Power has noted a growing trend of interference with our network, by way of maliciously shorting wires to cause black outs. The perpetrators then solicit money from our customers in order to restore supply,” KPLC said via a tweet.

The company said there is ongoing replacement of a vandalized transformer in Kiawaihiga Village, Gatanga Constituency whose damage was as a result of vandalism.

According to KPLC, residents of the area have reported increased cases of transformer vandalism leading to disruption of their socio-economic activities.

“Criminals further sabotage efforts to restore supply by our emergency teams as they remove fuses from the newly replaced transformers, immediately our teams leave the site in a bid to increase frustration on our customers so that they can yield to their demands,” KPLC said.

On January 20, President Uhuru Kenyatta warned that vandals found culpable of destroying critical infrastructure should face treason charges. 

He said such vandalism acts translate to economic sabotage since the said infrastructure can bring the country’s activities to a standstill

The president's warning followed a number of vandalism cases in Naivasha where people intentionally unbolted some transmission lines.

“The law is clear that these are acts of economic sabotage which falls as a treasonable act and the law is clear as to how you deal with treasonable acts and people who plunge the country into chaos for their own selfish needs,” Uhuru said.