Police Arrest Prominent Businesswoman and Four Others in Multi-Million Shilling Transformer Vandalism Syndicate in Eldoret
Ainabkoi Member of Parliament, Samuel Chepkonga, whose village was among the affected areas, expressed his frustration after visiting the central police station to learn more about the arrests
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Bernard Mwanthi (left) showcases recovered stolen copper wires and transformers as Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga (right) and Kenya Power Chief Security Officer for the North Rift Region, Daniel Yagan, observe at the Central Police Station.
Police officers in Eldoret have arrested five key suspects, including a well-known businesswoman, in connection with the theft of electrical installation equipment belonging to Kenya Power. The stolen equipment, valued at over Ksh. 500 million, has significantly affected power supply in the North Rift region.
The suspects were apprehended during a coordinated operation led by police in collaboration with security personnel from the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) regional office. Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benard Mwanthi confirmed the arrests, stating that the suspects are assisting in investigations related to the rampant transformer vandalism in the area.
“We have made a significant breakthrough by apprehending the masterminds behind the rising cases of transformer theft. These thefts have led to widespread power outages in towns, homesteads, and trading centers,” Mwanthi said.
Vehicle and Stolen Goods Recovered
Authorities seized a white pickup truck used by the suspects to transport stolen transformers and electrical equipment to the businesswoman’s residence. A search of the property in Kapsoya estate on the outskirts of Eldoret town uncovered several liters of transformer oil and an assortment of copper wires. According to police, one of the rooms in the residence had been converted into a storage facility for the stolen equipment.
MP Chepkonga Speaks Out
Ainabkoi Member of Parliament, Samuel Chepkonga, whose village was among the affected areas, expressed his frustration after visiting the central police station to learn more about the arrests.
“These are the same individuals who vandalized the transformer in my village, plunging all households, including my mother’s, into darkness,” said an agitated Chepkonga. “Even a public primary school near agricultural land owned by a prominent national leader suffered due to this syndicate.”
Chepkonga lauded the swift action by the multi-agency security team and called for stiffer penalties for those involved in economic sabotage.
“This is not just theft; it’s economic sabotage. I urge the judiciary to impose harsher penalties to deter others from engaging in such crimes,” he added.
Cross-Border Syndicate
The businesswoman and her accomplices allegedly targeted transformers, service cables, transformer oil, and other vital electrical equipment. The stolen items were reportedly transported through porous border routes into neighboring countries, primarily under the cover of darkness.
Investigators revealed that the thefts occurred in multiple areas, including Kaptagat, Nandi, Kakamega, and Eldoret. The police commander explained, “We discovered the syndicate’s activities spanned across four different areas. They would steal a transformer, meet three days later, and then disappear.”
Impact of Vandalism
KPLC’s Chief Security Officer for the North Rift region, Daniel Yagan, highlighted the scale of the problem, noting that 40 transformers worth Ksh. 120 million have been stolen in the past four months.
“These incidents have caused blackouts in major towns, including Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, and parts of West Pokot, over the last two months,” said Yagan. He confirmed that the recent operation led to the recovery of stolen equipment and the arrest of suspects caught vandalizing a transformer in Eldoret’s Kimumu estate.
“When we arrived at the scene, the suspects had already dismantled the transformer and loaded it onto a Toyota Hilux pickup belonging to one of them,” Yagan added.
Call for Action
Authorities emphasized the urgent need for greater vigilance and stricter measures to curb transformer vandalism, which not only disrupts power supply but also undermines economic activities in the affected regions.
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