Machakos County Faces Huge Losses After 200 Electricity Meters Stolen and Vandalized.
Machakos County Faces Major Losses Following Theft and Vandalism of 200 Electricity Meters
Machakos County is grappling with significant losses after the theft and vandalism of 200 electricity meters from various public institutions. The alarming discovery was made following an inspection prompted by complaints from residents about frequent power failures in public facilities.
According to Simon Kirima, the Chief Officer for Energy in Machakos County, the inspection revealed that, out of a total of 1,800 county electricity meters, 200 had been stolen or destroyed. This theft has led to substantial financial setbacks for the county, which is responsible for paying for the electricity used by public institutions.
Kirima emphasized that some of the stolen meters were found in residential buildings and private businesses. Shockingly, these meters continued to show usage on the county’s electricity bills. One case involved a household using a county meter, with a balance of KSh 205,951, while the county had already paid KSh 1.6 million for the meter’s usage—despite it not being in service for the public.
“The county is being forced to cover the costs for electricity that is not even being used in public institutions. This is not only financially irresponsible but also harmful to the taxpayers,” Kirima stated.
The county has now issued a stern warning to residents, urging them to cease vandalism and adhere to the proper legal channels for acquiring electricity meters. “Anyone found with stolen county property will face charges for destruction of county property and theft of electricity,” Kirima added.
In response to the growing concern, Newton Musyoka, the Director for Energy, gave a seven-day ultimatum to those hoarding stolen electricity meters. He warned that failure to return the meters within this period would result in severe legal consequences.
Musyoka also stressed the dangers of tampering with electricity meters, explaining that such actions could lead to hazardous situations like electrical fires and explosions. He assured that Kenya Power (KP) is actively collaborating with county officials to track down the stolen meters.
Authorities are calling on the public to report any suspicious activities related to stolen meters and to refrain from purchasing or handling meters obtained through illegal means. The county hopes this initiative will curb the rising trend of meter theft and ensure the safety of residents and public facilities alike.
Machakos County Faces Huge Losses After 200 Electricity Meters Stolen and Vandalized.
