Kenya Power has smoked out the mastermind of electricity transformer theft in Murang'a county following a multi-agency security operation.
The operation followed a rampant theft of the key infrastructure in Mt Kenya counties.
James Ng'ang'a Muturi was arrested at his home in the Karugia area within Saba Saba in Murang'a county and booked at Kenol Police Station.
The operation was conducted by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation's Crime, Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) and National Government Adminstration officers (NGAOs).
Ng'ang'a was found in possession of Kenya Power's service cable upon a search at his house.
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The arrest of the mastermind came after his suspected accomplice Vincent Gatoto Ndumia was arrested in an operation at Keria Village near the Mitarakwa factory within Murang'a County.
The Suspect was arrested in action attempting to vandalise a 100KVA transformer. At the time of his arrest, the suspect was driving a motor vehicle owned by Ng'ang'a.
It was then that police interrogated the suspect and established that he was working under the instructions of Ng'ang'a who was set to receive the vandalised transformer.
“I want to thank the DCI and NGAO officers for the swift action during the operations that we carried out over the weekend. We will continue carrying out surveillance on the network to weed out all illegal activities that not only endanger the lives of the vandals but also pose the danger of loss of life to members of the public,” Kenya Power acting Security Services Manager Paul Nyaga said of the arrests.
“I ask members of the public to be watchful of energy infrastructure and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or Kenya Power office."
Another four suspects believed to be part of the team were also arrested during the operation. They are believed to be part of the syndicate carrying out vandalism.
Kenya power security team discovered copper wires from vandalised transformers in the house of suspects arrested.
