State Deploys Police Officers To Guard Electricity Distribution Sites

The state has stationed 350 police officers to guard main electricity production and distribution installations to curb vandalism such as what was witnessed in January leading to a national power outage.

Distribution support pillars owned by Kenya Power came down in January in Embakasi, Nairobi after persistent vandalism—causing a nationwide blackout.

“Energy sector is now classified as a security area and the energy infrastructure has been classified as security infrastructure. Right now we have an energy sector police unit taking care of the infrastructure,” Benson Mwakina, the Director of Renewable Energy at the Energy ministry told delegates at a conference in Nairobi on Thursday.

He said since the formation of the energy sector police unit, patrols around energy installations have been heightened and vandalism attempts prevented, with arrests made.

“Right now, every county commissioner in Kenya is part of the energy team. Up to the chief level, they are looking after our infrastructure. We have a team in the Ministry of Energy based at Kawi House headquarters headed by a commissioner of police and he is the one coordinating about 350 officers countrywide to ensure that our installations are safe,” he said.

The ministry says it is positioning the security of its infrastructure at the forefront and dedicating resources to ensure continuous patrols, as it terms vandalism a menace that contributes to Kenya Power losses.

Most of the people who vandalize the electricity equipment sell the parts to spare part dealers at throw-away prices.

The State targets to double the fine for destroying electricity transmission lines, railway and road furniture to Sh20 million, in a push to put off the vice that costs the economy billions every year

The proposed increase is contained in the Statute Miscellaneous Amendment Bill, 2022 currently before Parliament for debate and passage.