A court in Ndhiwa has imposed decade-long jail terms on two men found guilty of offences linked to electricity infrastructure vandalism, underscoring a renewed push to curb the rising attacks on Kenya’s power network.
The judgement, delivered on 5 December 2025, comes amid growing concerns over transformer thefts and illegal power handling that have disrupted services in several rural counties.
The sentencing follows months of coordinated investigations involving Kenya Power security teams and law enforcement agencies.
According to the official statement issued by Kenya Power, the first suspect, David Ochieng Lang’o, was arrested in July 2025 after officers recovered 10 jerricans of oil suspected to have been drained from vandalised transformers.
The arrest was the result of a joint operation between Kenya Power–attached police officers and officers from Migori Police Station.
The court also convicted a second man, Godwin Omondi Oduogi, who was apprehended earlier in April 2025 by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stationed in Ndhiwa.
Kenya Power’s statement indicated that Oduogi had unlawfully disconnected a customer and was later found in possession of a transformer fuse during a follow-up investigation conducted with DCI officers. Both individuals pleaded not guilty but were handed 10-year sentences or fines of KSh5 million each.
In issuing the penalties, the magistrate highlighted repeated incidents of vandalism that have plagued Ndhiwa Sub-County, noting that the disruptions have affected schools, business operations, and household reliability.
Such crimes have historically strained Kenya’s power distribution system, prompting legislative amendments and stricter enforcement under the Energy Act to deter organised criminal activity around electricity assets.
Kenya Power welcomed the ruling, describing it as an important affirmation of efforts to protect essential infrastructure.
The utility’s Security Services Manager, Major Geaffery Kigen (Rtd), stated in the company’s announcement that the decision “continues to reinforce our commitment to safeguarding power infrastructure serving our people” and thanked both the Judiciary and law enforcement for their collaboration.
Major Kigen also urged communities to remain alert and report any unusual activity near installations, stressing that public involvement is crucial in tackling recurring vandalism cases.
Kenya Power has previously warned that transformer thefts contribute to prolonged blackouts and significant financial losses, particularly in regions where reliable power access is vital for economic activity.
The company says it will continue working with national security agencies to intensify surveillance in hotspot areas as part of wider measures to secure the electricity distribution network.