A night stakeout led by Rodriques Lunalo, protocol officer to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, resulted in the interception of three men dismantling streetlights near Kamakis on September 20. The operation, which began at 8 p.m. and lasted until 1 a.m., involved Lunalo and three armed officers positioning themselves near Kamakis, opposite Northlands Farm. They heard the sound of metal being cut and found the suspects cutting street-light poles into smaller pieces for easier transport.
The suspects fled into a nearby thicket and river after officers moved to intercept, evading four bullets fired during the chase. Despite a thorough search of the surrounding area, the suspects were not located. According to Lunalo, more than 100 streetlights have vanished along the corridor from 75 Barracks through Utawala to Kamakis, with over 30 already destroyed and another 10 pulled down but not yet removed.
The streetlights have never been switched on since installation, a condition that Lunalo believes criminals exploit by working under total darkness. A network of scrap-metal dealers pays thugs small sums to dismantle the infrastructure, forming a sophisticated cartel. This has resulted in the loss of lighting along the Eastern Bypass, raising safety concerns for motorists and pedestrians.
The loss of lighting leaves the Eastern Bypass in darkness, endangering lives. Under the Kenya Roads Act (2007), damage to roads can attract fines up to KSh 100,000 or two years’ imprisonment, while the Penal Code (Section 339) allows up to five years for malicious damage to public property. The proposed Protection of Critical Infrastructure Bill (2024) would raise penalties further.
Residents have urged the county to connect the streetlights to the power grid, arguing that functional lighting would deter further theft. They believe that if the lights were operational, the vandals would not have been able to carry out their activities undetected. The county has been urged to take measures to prevent future incidents.
Police have asked the public to report suspicious activity through toll-free lines and the DCI’s anonymous reporting channels as investigations continue. The authorities are working to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent future incidents of infrastructure theft and vandalism. The public has been urged to cooperate with the authorities to prevent such incidents.
The incident highlights the need for increased security measures to protect public infrastructure. The authorities must take steps to address the issue of infrastructure theft and vandalism, which poses a significant risk to public safety. The county government and police must work together to prevent future incidents and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Key points
- Over 100 streetlights have been stolen along the Eastern Bypass, posing a significant risk to public safety.
- The authorities are working to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent future incidents of infrastructure theft and vandalism.
- Residents have urged the county to connect the streetlights to the power grid to deter further theft.
