Three KPLC officials charged with sabotage of power lines

0
Raphael Ndolo Kimeu, David Mutitu Kamau and Julius Karani Mwaniki at Kahawa Law Court. Photo/Suek

Three Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) officials have been charged with sabotage over the January 11th power outage.

The accused are Raphael Ndolo Kimeu, acting general manager network management, David Mutitu Kamau, Manager Transmission network department and Julius Karani Mwaniki, second assistant engineer Transmission Department Central office.

The three are accused of willfully and unlawfully, with intent to sabotage, failing to maintain and reinforce the Dandora-Embakasi High Voltage power lines, the property of KPLC.

The lines are used for the supply of electricity to the citizens of the Republic of Kenya thus leading to the collapse of Tower number 11, 12, 13 and 14 located at Imara Daima area in Embakasi South within Nairobi.

The accused persons are alleged to have committed the offence on diverse dates between 29th November 2021 and 11th January 2022 in the Republic of Kenya, jointly with others not before court.

The officials are also facing a charge of neglecting official duty.

It is alleged that on the above dates and place, being employees of KPLC, willfully neglected to attend to the Dandora-Embakasi High Voltage Transmission Power towers and lines number 7, 11, 12, 13 and 14 the property of KPLC which had been vandalized, a duty they were dutifully bound to perform as per their job description.

The trio denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Diana Mochache. They were granted a bond of Sh 2 million each with two sureties and alternative cash bail of Sh 1 million.

The officials were among six others who had been detained over the allegations of sabotage and commission of terrorism.

The police told the court that failure and inaction by the suspects led to the collapse of the four towers and power blackout whose provision is essential and emergency services were disrupted and interfered with This constitute an act of terrorism.