Two individuals, Kelvin Muthie Githinji and Hezekiah Karimi, were apprehended for allegedly stealing Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) equipment valued at over Ksh.40,000. The suspects were caught in the act of removing token meters in Kianjogu village, Ndimi location, Kirinyaga Central Constituency. Local residents, upon discovering the theft, subjected the duo to a severe beating before police intervened and took them into custody.
At the Kerugoya Law Courts, the accused pleaded not guilty before Principal Magistrate Claire Wanyama. The prosecution requested that they be denied bond, citing concerns for their safety due to the community’s anger over the theft. The court granted this request, and the suspects will remain in custody until their case is mentioned on May 23, 2025.
Eng. Ruto Kipkorir, the Kirinyaga Branch Manager for Kenya Power, confirmed the incident and emphasized the company’s commitment to combating such crimes. He urged customers to report any instances of theft or corruption related to KPLC services to the nearest offices in Kerugoya or Mwea. “We are encouraging our customers to contact KPLC customer care for assistance with any issues,” Ruto stated.
This event underscores the broader challenge of infrastructure vandalism facing Kenya Power. In response, the company has partnered with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), assigning 42 officers to work alongside KPLC’s security team. This collaboration aims to address the rising cases of transformer vandalism and illegal power connections, which not only disrupt services but also pose significant safety risks to the public.
Since July of the previous year, over 1,000 individuals have been arrested and prosecuted for various offenses related to electricity infrastructure, highlighting the severity of the issue and the concerted efforts being made to safeguard the nation’s power supply.
By Citizen Digital