Increased theft of electricity and telephone cables is a threat to economic development even as it reaches new depths of impunity with law enforcers watching helplessly.
Last week, a major electricity transmission line linking Nairobi with Mombasa was brought down by vandals at the coast. A report by the Standard newspaper says the thieves brought down electricity pylons and stole the wire for sale as scrap metal. The Kenya Power and Lighting Company puts losses from this single incident at Kshs28 million (US$418,000).
Meanwhile, Telkom Kenya continues to lose millions of shillings from thefts of its underground telephone cables. The thieves are interested in copper, which is currently fetching high prices in the international market. Due to rampant vandalism, Telkom Kenya is placing more emphasis on its mobile phone business through the Telkom Wireless service. Telkom Wireless uses CDMA technology, unlike other mobile phone companies such as Safaricom and Celtel, which utilize the GSM standard.
In order to combat the increased cases of cable vandalism, both the Kenya Power and Lighting Company and Telkom have set up telephone hotlines for the public to provide information on the perpetrators. Kenya Power has a “Mulika Mwizi” (Spotlight on thieves) media campaign aimed at increasing public vigilance on power transmission facilities.
Kenya’s police have achieved limited success in stopping cable vandalism. Most of the people caught are small fish, usually poor youth attracted by the lure of quick cash. The masterminds of the vice are believed to be politically well connected and wealthy individuals. Last year, a parliamentary contestant on the ODM party was found with rolls of vandalized wire at his Embakasi house and at a yard in Nairobi’s Industrial Area. The case against Mr Irshad Sumra has however gone quiet even as he remains politically active.
In June, the Kenyan government banned the export of scrap metal to discourage cable vandalism. One month down the line, it would appear that the wire thieves may have found a new channel for their goods.
Filed under: News | Tagged: aluminium, cable, cables, copper, corruption, electricity, kenya, kenya government, kenya police, kenya power and lighting company, mombasa, mulika mwizi, sumra, telephone, telkom, telkom wireless, theft, vandalism, wireless
what is happening to telkom kenya is amear campaign ofhatred and sabotage by especially the two competitors who are also rolling out their services via the ofc.Also the scrap metal dealers have contributed much to these problems.Negative attitutes and behaviours of us kenyans are wanting.We destroy alot without thinking of the economic impact to the country,people in the system,and the safety of others who depent on the telecommunication system.Laxity and indirect involvement of security personnels.may God help us kenyans.