A court in Kenya has sentenced a man to ten years in imprisonment or a fine of KShs5 million (the equivalent of US$35,125) for vandalising a customer’s electricity meter board at Riverside Estate in Timau town, Meru County.
The convict, Brian Wahome, was arrested and charged at the Timau Police Station before he was arraigned at the Nanyuki Law Court where he was charged with stealing energy equipment contrary to section 169(1)(c) of the Energy Act 2019.
A statement issued by Kenya Power said the suspect pleaded guilty and was handed the sentence by Lisper Gakli Nyaga, the resident’s, magistrate at the Nanyuki law courts.
The statement said at the time of the arrest, Mr. Wahome was found in possession of two cutouts, a switch and the meter board.
Kenya Power’s Ag. Security Services Manager, Major Paul Nyaga Gichovi (Rtd.), welcomed the judgment, terming it a big boost to fight against vandalism.
“This sentence will go a long way to deter vandalism and other illegal activities on the network. We are relentless in the fight against these crimes as they pose the danger of loss of life through electrocution and undermine the quality of power supply, beyond financial losses to the company,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com