[News] Man arrested for stealing Kenya Power equipment

Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has announced the arrest of a suspect connected to the spate of transformer vandalism in Kiambu County.

The suspect identified as Denis Karanja, was found with a cache of suspected stolen Kenya Power properties believed to have been vandalized within the Makongeni area, Kiambu County.

He is said to be part of a gang of vandals who lurk in poorly lit streets, before vandalizing transformers for the coveted oil and cables.

Detectives reportedly recovered 140 litres of transformer oil, pole climbers, 9 sets of customer interface units, a winch, a KPLC apron, assorted transformer bolts and nuts, a roll of copper cable, a handheld drill, ropes, a sack of transformer laminators and a Tuktuk from the suspect.

The security agency said in a statement;

“Thika West detectives are holding a suspected transformer vandal in whose home was found a cache of suspected stolen properties of the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), believed to have been vandalized within Makongeni area of Kiambu County.

“Denis Karanja, 27, (suspect) is believed to be part of a wider gang of vandals who lurk in poorly lit streets, before vandalizing transformers for the coveted oil and cables, consequently leaving the local wananchi in darkness for weeks.”