The government has recently published the Energy and Communications Law 2011 (Amendment) Bill which aim making vandalism of electronic or power cables and energy related installations an economic crime that will see offenders pay up to Sh5 million in fines or serve five-year jail terms from the current Sh100,000 or three years imprisonment.
The Bill which has seen joint lobbying by players in the telecommunication and electricity sectors was necessitated by rampant vandalism targeting underground fibre-optic cabling, power conductors, steel pylon members, transformers, etc
KETRACO has not been spared and a number of our steel pylons removed from energised lines as well a few that are still under construction. A case at hand is the on-going Kilimambogo-Thika-Githambo 132kV line that traverses parts of Kiambu and Muranga Counties.
The most affected area along the 77 kilometre line is around Komo Location of Witeithie area of Thika Municipality. Investigations reveal that over 100 pieces of angle bars (tower members) were stolen from the month of May to August 2011. Although the project is still under the contractor, KETRACO officer have been at the site and engaged the local opinion leaders and government officers with a view to stemming the criminal activities which are costing the country hundreds of millions.
To overcome the problems KETRACO will carry out sensitisation campaigns in conjunction with local elder’s, communities where the transmission network traverses to inform and educate the public on the effect and danger of vandalism.
The Energy and Communications Law 2011 (Amendment) Bill also introduces changes on section two of the Scrap Metal Act by re-introducing the licensing of dealers in the sector who are suspected to be the beneficiaries of the steel stolen from public and private installations.
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