City Hall cracks down on illegal power hub linked to crime surge in Nairobi CBD, suspect on the run
The illegal connections are being blamed for persistent darkness in parts of the CBD and the rise of crime incidents targeting businesses and pedestrians.
An illegal electricity supply point secretly set up near the National Archives in Nairobi has been uncovered and taken down, exposing a wider web of power theft and tampering with public infrastructure in the Central Business District.
Investigators say the hub was drawing power from Kenya Power lines and selling it to traders, while interfering with street lighting and security cameras.
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The illegal connections are being blamed for persistent darkness in parts of the CBD and the rise of crime incidents targeting businesses and pedestrians.
The main suspect believed to be running the operation is on the run as police pursue him. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, in partnership with Kenya Power and the National Police Service, has launched a coordinated programme to restore electricity and boost safety in the city.
The initiative will involve protecting power connection points, speeding up the replacement of damaged streetlights, and providing armed escorts to protect workers assigned to high-risk areas.
“Over the weekend, several suspects were apprehended, and investigations are ongoing. Let this be a warning, Nairobi will not be a haven for criminals,” Sakaja said on Monday.
Large sections of the city centre, including Moi Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue, Tom Mboya Monument, and the Mama Ngina/Moi Avenue junction, have suffered frequent outages and growing insecurity linked to vandalism and violent attacks on maintenance crews.
Officials warn that only one power phase is still operational at some intersections, raising the threat of a complete blackout.
Apart from enforcement, the County has set up preventive measures, such as providing backup power, running awareness drives, and engaging traders to support surveillance and reporting of illegal activities.
“We are calling upon the business community to stand with us,” the Governor appealed. “Installing CCTV cameras and sharing intelligence will help us identify, track, and neutralise offenders more swiftly,” he added.
Sakaja has also urged the national government to provide extra resources to sustain urban recovery projects that are already underway.
County officials caution that without immediate financial support and public cooperation, Nairobi’s electricity and security systems could sink into an even bigger crisis.
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