The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday reported that it has intensified a crackdown on the syndicate responsible for the frequent power blackouts in parts of Muran’ga County.
This came after investigations by detectives and officials from the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), unearthed an elaborate network of individuals who have allegedly vandalized a total of 18 transformers leading to huge losses to the government and electricity consumers.
DCI said the group, which is suspected to be working with corrupt current and former KPLC employees interfere with power connection in order to generate income through reconnection of power.
"This is achieved through vandalism of crucial parts of a transformer before the agents masquerading as Kenya Power officials approach the affected area and reconnect power to homesteads at a fee," DCI reported.
The suspects sabotage the efforts of KPLC by removing transformer fuses shortly after the workers leave.
"This is done in a bid to frustrate consumers further so that they can yield to their demands."
In other news, a man is fighting for his life at Thika General Hospital after electrocuting himself while attempting to remove fuses from a transformer at Kirarwa market in Murang’a.
Two months ago, President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a suspension on scrap metal dealings.
This followed a revelation that the scraps metal trade was responsible for runaway vandalism of critical national infrastructure, targeting materials used for electricity connection, road and railway construction.
Last week, a man found in possession of materials used for the construction of the ongoing Nairobi Expressway was arrested.
