NAIROBI, Kenya — A police officer is among three suspects who were arrested on Saturday night for vandalizing critical underground power infrastructure near Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, severely affecting the electricity supply to major parts of the city.
The suspects, Thomas Mutua, Joseph Kyalo, and Dennis Mbithi Nzioki, a police officer attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Makadara were caught in the act alongside seven other individuals who fled the scene.
The group was allegedly tampering with 66kV underground power cables that serve the Ragati and Nairobi West substations.
The vandalized cables are crucial for supplying electricity to key areas including Upper Hill, Kenyatta National Hospital, Community, South C, Nairobi West, Madaraka, parts of South B, Industrial Area, Lang’ata Road, Ngumo Estate, Mbagathi Hospital, and KEMRI.
The incident has also compromised power redundancy to Nairobi’s Central Business District.
Kenya Power’s security team, working with law enforcement officers, arrested the three men and booked them at Capitol Hill Police Station.
Authorities recovered five meters of the vandalized cable along with crude tools including four hoes, two spades, and two hacksaws.
Speaking after the arrests, Kenya Power Managing Director Joseph Siror, commended the swift action by the security team and emphasized the company’s commitment to combating illegal activities targeting power infrastructure.
“Vandalism of power infrastructure continues to pose a serious risk to public safety and disrupts electricity supply to homes and businesses,” said Siror.
“We will continue to work closely with law enforcement and the public to ensure that those involved in such criminal acts are brought to justice.”
Siror urged Kenyans to report any suspicious activity near power installations.
Kenya Power warned that beyond endangering lives through potential electrocution, such acts of vandalism lead to widespread blackouts, inconvenience to customers, and financial losses due to equipment replacement and lost electricity sales.
