By Eddah Waithaka
Kenya Power has called for a total ban on the export of scrap metal and tough action against unscrupulous scrap dealers to tackle widespread vandalism of power infrastructure.
In a statement on Wednesday, the energy supply company said that vandalism had increased after the government’s scrap metal ban was lifted in 2022, resulting in significant losses of transformers.
“Our investigations have revealed a link between vandalism and copper waste business,” MD and CEO Eng Joseph Siror said on Wednesday.
He said there were no cases of vandalism to electricity infrastructure during the ban between January and May 2022, but cases spiked immediately after the ban was lifted.
Between May and December 2022, a total of 76 transformers worth Sh68 million were vandalised.
The MD added that in 2023, the company lost another 365 transformers worth Sh328 million while in 2024, vandals cost the company Sh78 million by destroying 78 transformers.
According to Siror, the losses are only the cost of the installation of new transformers..
“If you compute the cost of unserved energy, loss of business and possibly lives, the losses are in billions of Kenya shillings,” he said.
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Siror made the revelation during a stakeholder engagement with representatives of the Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek), the Scrap Metal Council and scrap metal dealers.
The MD called for an audit of all actors involved in the scrap business. This includes collectors, traders, smelters and exporters.
Siror also highlighted the need for a stronger regulatory framework in the scrap industry to target and eliminate elements that profit from vandalism.
“We propose that all traders dealing in scrap metal, especially copper and aluminium, must declare their sources to ensure traceability and accountability,” he said.
These measures, Siror added, should be complemented by a more robust regulatory framework in the scrap trade to help weed out rogue elements who are the direct beneficiaries of vandalism.
In addition, the MD praised the Energy Act, 2019 for its effective enforcement measures on electricity infrastructure. This has significantly reduced incidents of vandalism in the industry.
The law criminalizes tampering with electrical equipment, energy theft, vandalism and damage to street lights and other electrical infrastructure.
Siror said that the criminal penalties would serve as a strong deterrent and underscore the collective responsibility of all Kenyans to protect the resources they share.
He urged the stakeholders to join hands with the power company to rid the industry of the rogue elements who are driving the demand for the vandalisation of the power infrastructure.
“While many participants in the scrap metal industry are legitimate, a few unscrupulous dealers perpetuate this vice. We urge all stakeholders to join us in rooting out these elements to ensure a sustainable and reliable power supply for all Kenyans,” Siror said.
