Kenya Power's Shs 59 million loss as 59 transformers are vandalized in Nakuru

Nakuru, Saturday July 01, 2023

KNA by Anne Mwale

Kenya Power (KP) says it has incurred losses of Sh59 million in Nakuru County within eleven months after criminals vandalized 59 transformers and distribution lines.

KP Central Rift Region Chief Security Officer Mr Zachary Ombati said the trend has also frustrated efforts to turn Kenya into a 24-hour economy.

The Nairobi Stock Exchange -listed power distributor stated that Naivasha, Rongai and Njoro Sub-Counties were the new hotspots of vandalism as criminals in the regions had invaded its infrastructure, stealing more than 30 transformers and other electric parts for sale to rogue traders.

Mr Ombati spoke during a sensitization program for members of United Scrap Metal Association (USMA) where officials from KP, Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) and Ministry of Roads, Transport, and Public Works displayed samples of parts of most vandalized critical infrastructure.

The Chief Security Officer said that those vandalizing power cables and transformers were rolling back the gains made through the last mile connectivity programme. 

He however hailed police for increased arrests of suspected vandals and courts for handing out deterrent sentences to convicted offenders.

In the past one year courts have been convicting suspects found guilty of vandalizing Kenya power transformers, electrical conductors and other installations contrary to section 64(4) of the Energy Act, to sentences ranging from 10 to 30 years.

Since January this year at least 10 suspects have been arraigned in various law courts in Nakuru on charges of vandalizing KP’s property.

Mr Ombati who was flanked by Scrap Metal Council Chairman Mr Francis Mugo and USMA vice chairperson Mr Samuel Wanjine expressed concern that invasion of the power distributor’s installations was threat to Oserian Industrial Park and Naivasha Industrial Zone due to frequent power outages where several local and foreign investors have opened shop.

He added: “The problem is also experienced on a big scale in Mai Mahiu, Subukia, Molo and Njoro Sub-Counties and the situation is of grave concern. We will not relent on the war against vandalism, illegal power connections and other crimes that undermine the quality of power supply to our customers and pose danger to electricity consumers.”

Statistics from Kenya Power indicate that vandalism, meter tampering and power theft through illegal connections are costing the company Sh500 million in losses every year.

In addition to inconveniencing customers, Mr Ombati indicated that theft of transformers negatively impacted on the company’s revenues as it reduced electricity sales and increased the cost of replacing the assets.

“Replacing a vandalized transformer costs anything from Shs 500, 000 upwards and when other expenses are factored in the cost escalates,” the Chief Security Officer indicated. 

He said Kenya Power recently stepped up efforts to combat vandalism of its infrastructure in a bid to deter criminals through installation of sensors on transformers, increased surveillance and crack downs on scrap metal dealers and enhanced night patrols.

Occasioned by rising demand for copper wires in the market and whose price is quite attractive, vandals have risked their lives to rip transformers from high voltage transmission lines.

The toxic transformer oil which is allegedly sold to crooked food vendors is also largely targeted. 

Mr Ombati disclosed that the power utility company was conducting a public awareness campaign on risks and dangers that vandalism poses to businesses and lives of Kenyans.

He stated “People need to be taught most of the activities they generate revenue from are dependent on reliable supply of power which if disrupted through vandalism we get nothing. Lives may be lost if critical service providers such as hospitals and security agencies do not have power supply,”

Mr Mugo urged the dealers not to contravene the laws governing the scrap metal sector in the country. 

He further revealed that they will initiate changes to the Scrap Metal Act, 2015 to bring collectors, dealers and agents into the council regulatory framework.

“The scrap metal business is thriving; in our country, there are 18 millers who use 300MT of scrap metals. It helps improve the environment. The scrap metals are used to produce steel products used in the construction of roads and houses. It’s a vital sector,” Mr Mugo said.

“For scrap that cannot be milled in our country, we grant dealers license to export to other countries. When we give them export licenses the country earns foreign exchange. We will soon gazette our inspectors who will work with the police to bring sanity to the sector,” he said adding the new inspectors are going to be dispatched to various counties to help in monitoring the activities.

He urged dealers without valid licenses to apply lest they be apprehended and fined Sh10 million or seven years imprisonment.

“We recommend all scrap metal dealers to have a business license and the association to self-regulate. Let them know that it is not good for someone to destroy government infrastructure,” he said.

The Chairman said they are working closely with all the relevant government agencies to end the vandalism of infrastructure.

He warned that Scrap metals dealers engaging in illegal activities will have their licenses revoked, adding that the government had put in place severe new measures aimed at stemming the rising cases of vandalism.

The team, he said, will be working closely with security agencies in ensuring all licensed dealers comply with the existing laws. 

A raft of regulations, the chairperson added, already formulated are also set to be gazetted.

"We are notifying all those trading in scrap metal without licenses that they risk being arrested and have their businesses closed as they face prosecution," Mugo warned.

The sensitization forum with scrap metals dealers was necessitated by vandalism of infrastructure from the Ministries of Energy and Transport.

Mr Wanjine said the forum was aimed at educating dealers on how they can do business without vandalizing vital infrastructure.

He said the sector suffered when it was closed in 2021 by the government as a result of vandalism of critical infrastructure by unscrupulous businessmen.

The USMA Vice Chairperson said the association has entered into partnerships with KP, KETRACO, Ministry of Roads, Transport, and Public Works and National Police Service aimed at weeding out unscrupulous traders and coming up with the most effective ways of stopping vandalism of government infrastructure.

Mr Wanjine stated that the resolutions agreed on by the members of USMA included exposing any suspected vandalized property in the supply chain to relevant state agencies and handing over culprits to the police for further action.

“If we find any of our members with scrap metal suspected to have been vandalized from public infrastructure, we will take them to the police ourselves. We have put our members on notice not to buy stolen materials. We are sorry that our sector has been mentioned in the vandalism and we are ready to work with the government stop the menace,” Mr Wanjine said. 

The Vice chairman termed vandalism of power lines and other investments as economic sabotage and called for stiffer penalties against those caught engaging in the vice.

He urged the state agencies to embrace innovation by deploying Information Communication Technology to protect all the road signs, metal barriers, electric poles and pylons and other critical infrastructure by embossing or engraving them with different serial numbers before installation.

While noting that some critical infrastructure prone to vandalism were in forests and remote areas away from public scrutiny, Mr Wanjine suggested that the embossed number be stored in a computer system, showing details such as location, so that in the event it is found at a scrap yard one can tell it was vandalized. If it was removed and sold by the institution as scrap metal, he added, then this should be captured on the system to clear the dealer. 

He added: “If such a system is put in place it would be easy for law enforcement agencies to routinely visit scrap yards to check online if those metals they suspect are vandalized, were stolen or bought genuinely. The system will also enable scrap metal dealers to verify if metals brought in the yards are vandalized, through a computer or even phone (USSD code).”

Mr Wanjine affirmed that USMA members had also resolved to work with county police commanders as well as setting notices warning sale of stolen materials in all the registered yards.

He warned that any dealer found to have bought vandalized metal will be delisted. 

Mr Wanjine indicated that they were supporting the government regulation of the trade and that the association ‘will put its house in order' by profiling those selling stolen materials.

He however called on the two levels of government to harmonize licensing of scrap metal business to make it sustainable noting that it was a source of direct and indirect employment for thousands of Kenyans.

He pointed out: “Scrap Metal Council domiciled in the Ministry of Trade and Industrialization charges Shs 50,000 for one to operate a yard, the County Governments demand payment of at least Shs 100,000 while the National Environmental Management Authority’s scrap metal dealership license costs Shs 30,000.”

Statistics show that Kenya exported about 17, 874 and 12, 722 metric tons of scrap metals worth Sh5.9 billion and Sh4.5 billion in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

The Ministry of Energy and its agencies have been the most affected with its key critical infrastructure being the targets.

Courtesy ; K. N. A