NAIROBI, Kenya- An electricity transmission tower collapsed along the Naivasha–Juja 132kV double-circuit line following an act of vandalism, disrupting power supply through the Ruaraka Substation early Sunday.
Kenya Power and Lighting Company said the tower collapsed at approximately 3am, affecting customers supplied through the substation.
Technical teams rerouted electricity through alternative substations and restored supply to all affected customers by 4.30am, about 90 minutes after the disruption.
“An act of vandalism caused the collapse of a transmission tower along the Naivasha–Juja 132kV double-circuit line, disrupting electricity supply through the Ruaraka Substation,” the company said.
Items recovered at the scene indicated that the vandals were present when the tower collapsed, according to Kenya Power. The company did not disclose whether anyone was injured during the incident.
Its security officers and the police have opened investigations to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Kenya Power’s transmission and Airmobile teams have also begun repairing the damaged infrastructure and restoring the affected section of the network.
The utility company condemned the destruction of electricity installations, saying such incidents threaten public safety, interrupt power supply and cause substantial financial losses.
Kenya Power reported a 200 per cent increase in vandalism cases over the past three months. At least 37 transformers were vandalised during the period.
“Vandalism has become one of the biggest threats to the reliability and sustainability of our electricity network,” the company said.
It called for stronger and coordinated measures to protect critical electricity infrastructure and investments made in the country’s power network.
Kenya Power also urged members of the public to report suspicious activity around transmission towers, transformers and other electricity installations to the nearest police station or the company.
“Protecting electricity infrastructure is a shared responsibility,” the company said.
