The Kenya Power Kisii County Business Manager Engineer Erick Momanyi has decried the increasing cases of vandalism of power infrastructure being reported in the region.
According to the Business Manager, the theft of critical power infrastructure, especially transformers had become rampant especially in Nyakoe and Mosocho areas in Kitutu Chache South Constituency.
He pointed out that during the last two weeks, there was an attempt to vandalize a transformer at Mosocho area, but the residents raised an alarm while they lost another transformer in Nyakoe area.
“As Kenya Power, we have been carrying out customer education activities in the affected areas and encouraging the community members to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities within the community for action,” said Engineer Momanyi.
He called upon the administration officers within the county to collaborate with the Kenya Power office and support them in preventing the criminals from stealing their infrastructure.
Eng. Momanyi was speaking during a County Disaster Management Committee meeting held at the Kisii Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) on the outskirts of Kisii town.
The Business Manager noted the welding of the transformers would reduce their chances of being stolen, but the process would take time leaving room for criminals to get away with the infrastructure.
Further, he decried the illegal activities being conducted by individuals along the Kenya Power lines adding that a lot of customers had been connected illegally.
“During outages, there are individuals not employed by Kenya Power who are called upon to restore power illegally leading to the failure of some transformers in the region,” the Engineer remarked.
Momanyi said the cost of replacing a transformer is very high and the supply remains scarce.
This comes weeks after unknown individuals attacked the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) power station in Kegati Substation and vandalized key equipment causing a power outage across the entire county.
“This is to notify you that last night criminals/vandals went to our main Kegati 33/11kv Substation and vandalized major equipment. This being our main biggest and main substation we have therefore lost power supply to the whole of Kisii County,” read a message to customers from Kenya Power on May 7.
Statistics from Kenya Power show that in 2023, some 365 transformers worth Sh328 million were lost while this year, a total of 78 transformers have been vandalized.
As a result, the Company is working together with other institutions, energy sectors and members of the public in order to eradicate vandalism of energy equipment to enable every citizen to get affordable and reliable power for their livelihood.
By Mercy Osongo
