NAIROBI, Kenya – Two suspects accused of vandalising Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) transformers and stealing energy equipment have been sentenced to eleven years in prison.
Amos Swahili and Ernest Kemboi, notorious for a series of transformer vandalism incidents across the North Rift and Western regions, were apprehended by detectives in Elgeyo Marakwet on 15 July 2025.
Following their arrest, the pair was arraigned and faced multiple charges related to the theft and destruction of critical energy infrastructure.
On 23 February 2026, the Butali Law Court found both suspects guilty, ruling that the prosecution had proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
TRANSFORMERS VANDALS SENTENCED TO ELEVEN YEARS BEHIND BARSThe DCI welcomes the sentencing of two suspects who were found guilty for vandalising Kenya Power and Lighting Company(KPLC) transformers and stealing energy equipment.Amos Swahili and Ernest Kemboi who had
Each was sentenced to eleven years behind bars, marking a significant step in the fight against the vandalism of national installations.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) welcomed the ruling, describing it as a milestone in protecting Kenya’s energy infrastructure.
While serving their sentence, Swahili and Kemboi will also face additional pending charges at Iten Law Courts and Eldoret Law Courts for similar offences.
Vandalism of power equipment has long been a challenge in Kenya, causing power outages, economic losses, and safety risks.
Authorities say the sentencing sends a strong deterrent message to others involved in such criminal activities, emphasizing that the destruction of public utilities will attract severe penalties.
The DCI urged the public to report suspicious activity around transformers and other critical installations to help prevent further disruptions to the power supply.
