Two sentenced to 10 years in jail for vandalising electricity equipment in Homa Bay

Two men have been sentenced to 10 years in prison each, or pay a fine of Ksh.5 million apiece, after being found guilty of vandalising electricity equipment and unlawfully handling power infrastructure.

Ndhiwa Senior Principal Magistrate’s Court on Friday handed the sentences to David Ochieng Lang’o and Godwin Omondi Oduogi.

According to Kenya Power, Ochieng was arrested in July 2025 in a joint operation involving officers attached to the State body as well as the Migori Police Station.

He was found with 10 jerrycans of oil believed to have been siphoned from vandalised transformers.

Omondi, meanwhile, was arrested in April 2025 by Ndhiwa Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers after unlawfully disconnecting a customer.

Joint investigations by Kenya Power and the DCI also revealed that he was in possession of a transformer fuse.

The two denied the charges but were both convicted and sentenced.

The court noted that the spike in vandalism cases and resulting power outages in Ndhiwa sub-county has become a persistent concern for residents and businesses alike.

Kenya Power’s Security Services Manager Major Geoffrey Kigen welcomed the ruling, calling it a win for customers and enterprises that are often left literally and figuratively in the dark after such incidents.

“As Kenya Power, we thank the Judiciary and law enforcement agencies for their continued support in ensuring that justice is served in such cases,” he said.

“These convictions also highlight our continued appeal to the public: report any suspicious activities involving electricity installations. When vandalism occurs, it disrupts livelihoods and compromises the safety of our communities.”