In a dramatic pre-dawn operation along Mombasa Road near Nyayo Stadium, police arrested three suspects—one of them a serving police officer linked to a cable vandalism ring.
Acting on a tip-off, the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) Nairobi area security team teamed up with law enforcement and caught the suspects in the act of digging up and vandalising underground copper cables.
Upon arrival, the officers were confronted by a gang of about 10 men armed with crude weapons. While most of the vandals managed to escape the scene on foot, three were cornered and arrested.
Authorities say the recovered materials include significant lengths of copper cables—crucial to Nairobi’s power grid.
“This was a well-coordinated criminal activity,” said a police source. “What’s more disturbing is that one of the suspects is a serving police officer.”
The trio is now in police custody, as investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the operation and determine whether it is linked to other recent vandalism cases across Nairobi.
In a statement, the National Police Service (NPS) thanked members of the public for the tip that led to the arrests and warned of severe consequences for those engaging in acts of vandalism.
“We will not tolerate criminal elements sabotaging national infrastructure,” the NPS said. “We urge the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity to the nearest police station.”
Authorities have pledged to pursue the remaining suspects and ensure that critical infrastructure is protected.
