This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
On August 1, 2019, Keroka Law Court Principal Magistrate Matata Kimtai handed down a 10-year prison sentence to three individuals, including a father and son, for vandalism and theft of Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) property.
The three accused, Zablon Johnson, his son Eric Musa, and Peter Onyamu, were also given the option to pay a fine of Sh5 million each. They were charged with vandalism of electrical conductors contrary to section 64(4) of the Energy Act number 12 of 2006.
According to the charge sheet, the three individuals, along with two others who were acquitted, vandalized 400 meters of low-voltage conductors belonging to KPLC on different dates between February 21 and 26, 2019, at Chitago village in Nyankoba Sub-Location, Masaba North Sub-County.
They also faced a second count of stealing 400 meters of low-voltage conductors worth Sh80,000, contrary to section 268 (1) as read with section 275 of the Penal Code.
Magistrate Kimtai ruled that the low-voltage wires vandalized were also removed from the scene, and since the use was coveted to other than the general owner, the court deemed the individuals who found the wires without proper explanation as thieves.
Major Retired Paul Gichovi, the South Nyanza Region Kenya Power Security Head, urged citizens to report persons interfering with power lines to the nearest police stations, KPLC office, or chiefs, stating that innocent clients were suffering in darkness due to a few criminal elements in society.
