Duo Fined Ksh1 Million Over Destruction of Road Signage

Two men have been slapped with a hefty Ksh1 million fine or face a one-and-a-half-year jail sentence for vandalizing a road signage along the Nakuru-Kabarak Road. 

In a statement on Thursday, July 31, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) said Kevin Barasa Nyongesa and James Juma Wekesa were found guilty of unlawful removal of a road bump sign near Kabarak University. 

According to the agency, the sign constituted essential road infrastructure, and its removal posed a significant threat to motorists and other road users navigating that stretch.

“This destruction of the road signage is classified as essential road infrastructure, which would pose grave danger to motorists and other road users plying that route,” the statement read.

KeNHA welcomed the court's decision, viewing it as a strong deterrent to would-be offenders and a necessary measure to uphold road safety.

“The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) stands with the court verdict and strongly condemns vandalism of road infrastructure as it endangers the safety of road users,” the statement continued.

In light of the incident, KeNHA has urged citizens to remain vigilant and play an active role in safeguarding public infrastructure.

“As an Authority, we urge all Kenyans to protect road furniture and report any acts of vandalism to any KeNHA office or the nearest police station,” the statement read.

This comes months after a man accused of stealing and vandalizing electricity infrastructure in Western Kenya was sentenced to six years and 10 months in prison, with the option of a fine amounting to Ksh10.2 million.

In a statement on Tuesday, April 8, Kenya Power said George Odiyo was arraigned before the Kitale Law Courts on Tuesday, April 1, facing four counts, including vandalism of energy infrastructure, theft and handling of energy equipment, and unauthorized electrical installation.

According to the statement, prosecutors described the suspect as a habitual offender with a record of similar crimes.

Ultimately, Odiyo pleaded guilty to all charges and for the first two counts, he received a three-year jail term for each, with an alternative fine of Ksh5 million per count.

On the third count, involving possession of stolen energy equipment, he was sentenced to five months in jail, with an option of a KSh100,000 fine.

The fourth charge, related to unauthorized electrical installation, earned him an additional five-month term with a similar fine alternative.

"We welcome the court's decision to impose stiff penalties on this individual, as it sends a strong message that vandalism of critical energy infrastructure will not be tolerated. We are working closely with the relevant law enforcement agencies to weed out all illegal activities on our network.

"This ruling is a major boost toward our effort to curb vandalism and theft of electricity through illegal connections,” Kenya Power’s Security Services Manager Maj. Geoffrey Kigen (Rtd.) said.