NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 5 – A court in Ndhiwa has handed two men 10-year jail terms or an alternative fine of Sh5 million each for vandalising electricity equipment, in one of the heaviest penalties issued in recent months as authorities move to curb rising attacks on power infrastructure.
The Ndhiwa Senior Principal Magistrate’s Court found David Ochieng Lang’o and Godwin Omondi Oduogi guilty of separate offences involving the vandalism and unlawful handling of power equipment, following joint investigations by Kenya Power security teams, regular police, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
Lang’o was arrested in July 2025 after Kenya Power–attached police officers and Migori Police Station officers found him with 10 jerricans containing oil suspected to have been siphoned from vandalised transformers.
The court said the evidence presented was compelling enough to convict him.
Mr Oduogi, arrested in April 2025 by Ndhiwa DCI officers, was accused of unlawfully disconnecting a customer and being in possession of a transformer fuse.
He also pleaded not guilty but was convicted after the joint investigation team established his involvement.
In its judgment, the court said the growing incidents of vandalism and power outages in Ndhiwa Sub-County had become a significant burden to households and businesses, noting that the sentences were intended to deter similar offences and underscore the gravity of crimes targeting electricity infrastructure.
Kenya Power welcomed the ruling, describing it as a win for customers and businesses affected by disruptions caused by vandalism.
“This ruling continues to reinforce our commitment to safeguarding power infrastructure serving our people. As Kenya Power, we thank the Judiciary and the law enforcement agencies for their continued support in ensuring that justice is served in such cases,” said Kenya Power’s Security Services Manager, Geoffery Kigen.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity around power installations.
“These convictions also bring to the fore our ask to the public that they should report any suspicious activities on electricity installations to the relevant authorities for action. When vandalism occurs, it affects our livelihoods and the safety of our communities.”
Kenya Power said it would continue working with security agencies to stamp out vandalism and electricity theft in an effort to protect the national grid and ensure reliable power supply to homes and businesses.
