Cop among three nabbed over suspected KPLC equipment vandalism in Nairobi
The arrests followed a tip-off to KPLC’s Nairobi Area security team about ongoing cable tampering near Nyayo Stadium.
Three individuals, among them a police officer, have been arrested in connection with the vandalism of Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) cables along Mombasa Road in Nairobi.
The arrests followed a tip-off to KPLC’s Nairobi Area security team about ongoing cable tampering near Nyayo Stadium.
Acting on the information, officers rushed to the location where they reportedly found around ten suspects armed with crude weapons actively unearthing and damaging the power lines.
According to the National Police Service (NPS), this location has seen a series of similar incidents in recent weeks.
While the majority of the suspects managed to flee, three were arrested at the scene. The materials believed to have been vandalised were also recovered.
The arrested suspects, including the officer, are currently in custody as investigations continue.
In a statement, the NPS thanked members of the public for their vigilance and warned against participation in acts of vandalism and other criminal behaviour.
The Service emphasized its resolve to deal firmly with all lawbreakers and encouraged citizens to report suspicious activities to nearby police stations.
In May, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi strongly criticized the escalating cases of vandalism and deliberate attacks on the country’s electricity infrastructure, calling the incidents both tragic and intolerable.
Wandayi expressed deep concern over the targeted damage to key installations, such as the draining of transformer oil, the severing of power lines, and the toppling of electricity poles.
He dismissed the acts as more than mere theft, labelling them calculated acts of sabotage.
“This isn’t just theft it’s outright sabotage,” he remarked, highlighting the gravity of the actions taken by individuals who tamper with electrical equipment and compromise power supply.
