A police officer attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is among three men arrested for vandalising high-voltage underground power cables near Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.
The Saturday night incident targeted 66kV lines that serve key substations supplying power to major parts of the city.
The affected substations, Ragati and Nairobi West, are critical to electricity distribution in areas such as Upper Hill, Kenyatta National Hospital, South C, Community, Madaraka, parts of South B, Industrial Area, Lang’ata Road, Ngumo Estate, Mbagathi Hospital, and KEMRI.
Further, Kenya Power indicated that the vandalism act also disrupted power supply redundancy, weakening backup electricity routes for the Nairobi Central Business District and its environs.
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Details of the DCI Police Officer’s Arrest
The suspects, Thomas Mutua, Joseph Kyalo, and Dennis Mbithi Nzioki, the DCI officer, were part of a 10-man gang found armed with crude tools.
However, seven others managed to flee the scene as the trio was apprehended and booked at the Capitol Hill Police Station.
Kenya Power’s security team, working alongside local law enforcement, recovered five meters of the already vandalised power cable.
Also, they confiscated tools used in the operation, including four hoes, two spades, and two hacksaws.
Kenya Power MD on the Incident
Kenya Power Managing Director & CEO Dr. (Eng.) Joseph Siror condemned the act, citing it as both dangerous and economically damaging.
“Vandalism of power infrastructure has continued to pose a serious risk to public safety while disrupting electricity supply to homes and businesses.
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“It is unfortunate that, as we work to supply reliable and safe electricity to our customers, a few people are involved in vandalism and other illegal activities that compromise the safety of the network,” said Siror.
Additionally, Siror praised the arrest and emphasised the company’s commitment to heightened surveillance and collaboration with security agencies to combat such illegalities.
He urged the public to report any suspicious activity near power installations to the nearest police station, a Kenya Power office, or via the company’s USSD code *977#.
Further, he warned that vandalism can lead to severe consequences, including electrocution, prolonged blackouts, and significant losses in electricity sales and equipment replacement.
“We will continue to work collaboratively with the public and law enforcement agencies to deal with these illegalities while ensuring that the perpetrators face the law,” added Siror.
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