Man jailed for 5 years for tampering with KPLC connection

A man in Awendo will start his new year in jail, after he was found guilty of disconnecting electricity illegally.

Jared Omollo was found in contravention of Section 168 (1)(d) of the Energy Act No. 1 of 2019.

The law states that; a person who disconnects, or permits to be disconnected, any conductor or apparatus from any electric supply line without the consent of the licensee; commits an offence and shall on conviction, be liable to a fine of not less than KSh1 million, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than one year, or to both.

Rongo Resident Magistrate Raymond Lang’at found Omollo guilty of engaging in unauthorised disconnection of electrical apparatus, handing him a five-year jail term.

The court heard that in December 27, 2020 in Marindi village, Kanyagwal sub-location, Omollo illegally disconnected electricity from a customer, amid rising cases of illegal power connection and vandalism of property belonging to Kenya Power in the area.

Rongo Sub-County administrator Seth Odoyo lauded the judgment saying that it will serve as an example to other citizens involved in illegal electricity activities.

In January 2020, Kenya Power rolled out a countrywide campaign to weed out illegal connections and curb theft of electricity, a campaign which started at Imara Daima estate in Nairobi.

A month after rolling out the campaign, Kenya Power in late February 2020, sacked 110 employees who were found guilty of aiding fraud, illegal connections and other crimes.

“The Company will continue to work with security agencies to eliminate illegal power connections and address other crimes that are denying Kenyans quality electricity supply.

“Illegal connections do not just threaten the Company’s revenue but also the lives of beneficiaries and the public at large. We are focused on eliminating these crimes and ensuring all those found culpable face the full force of the law,” Kenya Power CEO Bernard Ngugi said then.

Read original article on TV47.co.ke