SULTAN HAMUD, Kenya — Police have arrested three men at Sultan Hamud Railway Station in Makueni County over the alleged siphoning of fuel from train wagons, in an incident authorities have described as economic sabotage.
Those arrested were identified as Nicodemus Keya, a locomotive driver, Mutunga Mwanzia, a security guard, and Geoffrey Irungu. The suspects were apprehended following a tip-off from members of the public, who alerted authorities to suspicious activity at the station.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), officers from Kenya Railways and the Port Police Unit moved in swiftly and caught the suspects in the act while the train was stationed at Sultan Hamud.
“Kenya Railways and Port Police have arrested three individuals implicated in the illegal act of siphoning fuel from train wagons at the Sultan Hamud Railway Station,” the DCI said in a statement.
Police recovered two 20-litre jerrycans and two 18-litre water dispenser bottles, all filled with petrol believed to have been siphoned from the train.
Investigators said the theft occurred as the train waited at the station for a change of driver — a window the suspects allegedly exploited to drain fuel from the wagons.
“As the train remained at the Sultan Hamud Railway Station, waiting for a new driver to take over, the three individuals were promptly escorted to Emali Railways Police Station, where they are undergoing processing pending arraignment,” the DCI added.
The suspects remain in custody as police prepare to present them in court. Prosecutors are expected to prefer charges related to stealing by servant, handling stolen property, and economic sabotage, offences that attract stiff penalties under Kenyan law.
Under the Penal Code, theft by an employee or agent entrusted with public or employer property is treated as an aggravated offence, while acts that interfere with critical infrastructure, such as rail transport, may also fall under laws targeting economic crimes and public safety.
The DCI reiterated its zero-tolerance approach to fuel theft and infrastructure vandalism, warning that such crimes undermine public resources and national development.
“The National Police Service remains firmly committed to combating fuel theft and all forms of economic sabotage through sustained vigilance, swift action, and strong public partnership,” the statement said.
Authorities also urged Kenyans to continue reporting criminal activity, noting that anonymous tip-offs remain a critical tool in disrupting organised theft networks targeting public assets.
Kenya Railways has in the past raised concerns over vandalism, pilferage, and tampering with cargo, saying the incidents disrupt operations, increase costs, and erode investor confidence in rail freight — a key pillar of the government’s logistics and trade strategy.
Police said further investigations are ongoing to establish whether the suspects were part of a wider fuel theft syndicate operating along the rail corridor.
