A Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC) security team in Kirinyaga County has arrested five individuals accused of orchestrating illegal electricity connections. Among the items seized were stolen electricity meters and CIUs, along with specialized tools like wooden climbers and safety belts.
Highlights:
- KPLC’s Mt. Kenya security unit apprehended five suspects in Kirinyaga County
- Seized items include stolen meters, CIUs, a wooden climber and a safety belt
- Accused of engaging in unauthorised electricity connections and equipment theft
- Violations are punishable under the Energy Act 2019 with heavy fines or imprisonment
- Kenya Power continues a national crackdown on vandalism and electricity theft
Main Story:
In a coordinated move within Kirinyaga County, KPLC’s Mt. Kenya security team detained five individuals believed to be involved in illegal power connections and theft of electricity meters and CIUs. The team also seized tools often used in such operations, including a wooden climber and a safety harness.
Authorities found the suspects in possession of items used to tamper with power lines, posing serious safety risks not only to themselves but also to the wider public. Such acts can lead to electrocution, fires, and disruption of power supply.
Under Kenya’s Energy Act 2019, those found guilty of illegal power connections or theft of power infrastructure face stiff penalties—fines up to Sh 1 million or a year in jail. Meter tampering attracts up to Sh 50,000 in fines or two years imprisonment, while vandalising power equipment carries up to Sh 5 million in penalties or five years behind bars.
This incident is part of a larger national effort by Kenya Power, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, to crack down on electricity theft. Over 1,000 individuals have been arrested across the country in recent years, with some KPLC employees dismissed for aiding such activities.
Electricity theft not only bleeds millions in revenue but also endangers lives. Illegal connections often result in outages and can pose serious risks in densely populated areas. Kenya Power is urging the public to report such activities and help safeguard the national grid.
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As Kenya Power tightens the noose on electricity theft, the message is clear: tampering with the grid could cost you your freedom—and possibly your life.
