KPLC Count Loses After Major Theft in Limuru

A village was left in darkness after suspected thugs stole a power transformer in Limuru area, Kiambu County.

Officials said the incident happened in Mitini area where the residents woke up on Monday to find their transformer missing.

Residents told police the thieves disconnected the Kenya Power and Lighting transformer and loaded it onto a waiting vehicle and drove off.

It is not clear how the thieves managed to steal the electricity utility given there was power supply then.

“They have the capacity to disconnect power and steal the transformer,” said a resident who said she was running into loses over the incident.

Residents have said at least 20 transformers have been vandalised or stolen by unknown people.

Kenya Power said those vandalising the transformers steal copper wires and oil in the transformers.

The affected villagers want authorities to intensify patrols so as to keep away those vandalising the transformers.

Vandalism of transformers, he said, remains a key challenge in providing reliable electricity in many areas.

The crime affecting electricity distribution equipment is among the leading causes of power outages, undermining the quality of power supply to customers and contributing to reduced productivity in industries.

Kenya Power had announced plans to increase surveillance on vulnerable transformers and enhance coordination with community policing authorities in the affected localities.

It further added there are plans to meter all its transformers across the country in bid to curb the rising menace of electricity theft that is costing the company billions of shillings.

The process will help the utility firm to identify specific transformers affected by the theft and close in on homes benefiting from stolen electricity.

The firm’s system losses averages 20 percent, which is above the allowable level of 14.9 percent and therefore the difference is a cost to the company.

Such incidents at times happen through collusion, officials say adding a past probe had led to the sacking of some staff at the power firm.