Machakos: The Department of Energy Machakos County is counting huge losses following the stealing and vandalising of 200 electricity meters from public institutions.
According to Kenya News Agency, the County Chief Officer for Energy, Simon Kirima, stated that they decided to conduct an inspection after Machakos residents reported power failures in public institutions due to the vandalism and meter thefts. During the inspection, they discovered that out of 1,800 county electrical meters, 200 had been stolen and vandalised, resulting in significant losses for the county.
Kirima revealed that some stolen meters were located in residential buildings and private businesses, where the county continued to incur electricity charges. “We have found this residential household using county meters, and its balance is reading 205,951, while the county has so far paid 1.6 million for it, yet we are not using it,” Kirima lamented.
He urged Machakos residents to stop vandalism and legally acquire electricity meters from KP, warning that being found with county property would lead to accusations of destruction of county property and electricity theft.
Additionally, the Director for Energy, Newton Musyoka, issued a seven-day ultimatum for those holding county electrical meters to return them or face legal consequences. He emphasized that KP, in collaboration with county officials, is actively tracking the stolen meters and cautioned residents against handling them, as meter tampering can result in electrical fires, explosions, and other safety hazards.