Police arrest 2 for over Ksh90M illegal power connection
Detectives attached to the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) have arrested two persons of interest at the centre of a sophisticated electricity theft syndicate that has cost the country over Ksh90 million in revenue losses and infrastructure damage.
In a statement released on Sunday, August 17, 2025, by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the duo was arrested in Mpinda village, Igembe, following a targeted operation based on credible intelligence.
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“A team of detectives attached to the Kenya Power and Lighting Company has apprehended Japhet Kirimi, aka Senator, a wanted suspect linked to electricity theft, illegal electricity supply to unauthorised third parties, and damage to KPLC infrastructure in the Igembe North and South areas,” the DCI stated.
DCI said the two masterminded an illegal underground power network, secretly tapping electricity from the official KPLC grid and distributing it to unauthorised users across several villages.
“This illegal setup, masterminded by Kirimi and his accomplice, powered over 21 unauthorised borehole pumps, providing water to numerous miraa farms not only in Mpinda village but also in the surrounding areas of Kabuitu, Kanyakine, Muthucine, and Mangala,” the DCI revealed.
None of the 21 boreholes had been metered, making the operations completely invisible to KPLC billing systems. Detectives said the clandestine network had been operational for at least four years.
The sleuths said the impact on the national grid has been severe.
“The underground network has wreaked havoc, leading to the failure of approximately 14 transformers and forcing costly replacements estimated at Sh21 million,” the DCI noted.
According to investigations, the revenue lost through the illegal supply of power to the 21 boreholes over four years is valued at approximately 90.7 million shillings.
The persons of interest are currently in custody and undergoing processing pending arraignment in court.
DCI confirmed that further investigations are underway to identify additional players in the network, including possible insiders who may have aided the syndicate.
It has urged the public to report any suspicious electricity connections and warned that stern action will be taken against anyone found engaging in power theft.
“Illegal connections are not only dangerous but undermine critical infrastructure and the country’s economy,” the DCI emphasised.
