The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested a suspect linked to repeated cases of vandalism that left several villages in Kakamega County without electricity, bringing to an end a nearly two-year manhunt.
In a statement issued on Sunday, April 12, 2026, the DCI said the suspect had been on the run for months, evading arrest despite sustained efforts by law enforcement agencies.
“The long arm of the law has finally caught up with a notorious vandal whose appetite for electrical infrastructure has left many villages in Shianda, Kakamega County, in the dark,” the agency said.
According to detectives, the suspect is believed to have been involved in the destruction and theft of electricity infrastructure, disrupting power supply to homes, businesses and public institutions in the area.
The DCI said the case dates back to August 2, 2024, when officers attached to the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) conducted a raid at the suspect’s home in Shianda village. Although the suspect managed to escape at the time, investigators recovered crucial evidence linking him to the crimes.
Items recovered during the initial operation included assorted electrical equipment, a dismantled transformer, bundles of copper windings and containers of transformer oil.
“While the suspect managed to slip through the dragnet, he left behind a trove of incriminating items,” the statement said.
Following months of investigations, detectives eventually tracked down and arrested the suspect, who later led officers back to his residence for a second search.
The DCI said the subsequent operation uncovered more evidence suggesting the suspect was part of a wider network dealing in stolen electrical materials.
Recovered items included KPLC meter cards, multiple SIM cards, a filled electricity application form and various job cards from different institutions, all bearing the suspect’s name.
“The search yielded further incriminating evidence that suggests the suspect was involved in organised illegal activities,” the agency noted.
Preliminary investigations have already linked the suspect to several cases of transformer vandalism reported in the wider Malava area.
The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue, with authorities pursuing possible accomplices involved in the illegal trade.
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