Mombasa court jails road vandalism repeat offender as KeNHA warns of rising sabotage
Said Juma Tsuma had previously been convicted for a similar offence in 2023, for which he was sentenced to community service. The court took his past conviction into account while delivering the latest judgment.
A man in Mombasa has been sentenced to three years in prison or pay a Sh3 million fine after he was found guilty of vandalising road infrastructure along the Miritini-Kipevu Road.
According to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the man was caught removing reinforcement bars from the road, an act that violates Section 24 of the Scrap Metal Act (Act No. 1 of 2015).
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In its statement on Friday, KeNHA revealed that the man, identified as Said Juma Tsuma, was a repeat offender. He had previously been convicted of a similar offence in 2023, for which he was sentenced to community service. The court took his past conviction into account while delivering the latest judgment.
KeNHA strongly condemned acts of vandalism, saying they pose a danger to road users and reduce the lifespan of the roads.
“As an authority, we urge all Kenyans to protect road furniture and report any acts of vandalism to our offices or the nearest police station,” KeNHA said.
The authority also urged the public to report any suspicious activity and provided a toll-free number for reporting incidents.
“If you witness any form of vandalism on our highways, kindly contact us through our toll-free line at 0800211244.”
KeNHA reminded the public that protection of road infrastructure is essential for safety and maintenance.
KeNHA, which was established under the Kenya Roads Act of 2007 and began operations in September 2008, is responsible for the development, rehabilitation, maintenance, and management of national trunk roads, which include Class S, A, and B roads.
The authority operates from its headquarters in Nairobi and maintains ten regional offices and three corridor management offices across the country.
KeNHA also manages all weighbridge installations and plays a central role in maintaining road quality standards.
It was first certified ISO 9001:2008 in July 2013 and later recertified to ISO 9001:2015 in September 2018.
In recent months, KeNHA has raised concerns about a growing trend of vandalism targeting road signs and other critical infrastructure.
The Kenya Roads Act of 2007 provides a legal framework for handling such incidents. Section 49 of the law deals with unauthorised structures and works on, over, or below roads and requires individuals to obtain written permission from the relevant authority.
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