A Kabarnet court has handed two men a hefty penalty for vandalising telecommunication infrastructure in Baringo County, underscoring the growing concern over attacks on critical communication facilities.
Senior Principal Magistrate Purity Koskey sentenced Enock Kabiswa Chongwa and Elijah Ouma Odhiambo to a fine of Sh10 million each or 10 years’ imprisonment after finding them guilty of stealing and damaging telecommunications equipment worth more than Sh1.15 million at Chemolingot Hill in Tiaty.
The prosecution told the court that the accused targeted two communication sites on separate occasions in September and October 2025, causing significant disruption to network services in the region.
Among the items stolen were power cables, copper tape, cable lugs and fibre-related equipment belonging to Safaricom and infrastructure providers operating at the sites.
In her ruling, Magistrate Koskey said the evidence presented left little doubt about the involvement of the accused.
“I have considered the sequence of events and the circumstantial evidence led, and I arrive at an irresistible conclusion that it was the accused persons who were involved in tampering with the telecommunication equipment at both sites,” she ruled.
Key prosecution witness Eddy Smith, an Airtel technician, narrated how he linked the suspects to the vandalism.
“While heading to the site, I encountered the two men and became suspicious. I later followed them to Chemolingot Centre where they checked into a hotel,” he told the court.
Smith said police arrested the suspects after he reported his observations and that stolen cables were later recovered near the vandalised site.
Another witness, transporter Robinson Kiptoo Korkon, testified that he ferried the two accused persons from Marigat to Chemolingot shortly before the first incident.
“The following morning they contacted me again seeking transport, but I noticed they were carrying heavy bags and referred them to another vehicle,” he said.
Safaricom Regional Security Officer Elizabeth Muhia said the vandalism affected network operations and led to major financial losses.
“The Chemolingot site was vandalised and cables stolen. Restoration works were undertaken and services resumed after repairs,” she testified.
The court noted that telecommunications infrastructure is critical to communication services and that acts of vandalism have far-reaching consequences for businesses, security agencies and residents who depend on reliable network connectivity.
The two convicts have been granted 14 days to lodge an appeal against both conviction and sentence.“The Chemolingot site was vandalised and cables stolen. Restoration works were undertaken and services resumed after repairs,” she testified.
The court noted that telecommunications infrastructure is critical to communication services and that acts of vandalism have far-reaching consequences for businesses, security agencies and residents who depend on reliable network connectivity.
The two convicts have been granted 14 days to lodge an appeal against both conviction and sentence.“The Chemolingot site was vandalised and cables stolen. Restoration works were undertaken and services resumed after repairs,” she testified.
The court noted that telecommunications infrastructure is critical to communication services and that acts of vandalism have far-reaching consequences for businesses, security agencies and residents who depend on reliable network connectivity.
The two convicts have been granted 14 days to lodge an appeal against both conviction and sentence.“The Chemolingot site was vandalised and cables stolen. Restoration works were undertaken and services resumed after repairs,” she testified.
The court noted that telecommunications infrastructure is critical to communication services and that acts of vandalism have far-reaching consequences for businesses, security agencies and residents who depend on reliable network connectivity.
The two convicts have been granted 14 days to lodge an appeal against both conviction and sentence.“The Chemolingot site was vandalised and cables stolen. Restoration works were undertaken and services resumed after repairs,” she testified.
The court noted that telecommunications infrastructure is critical to communication services and that acts of vandalism have far-reaching consequences for businesses, security agencies and residents who depend on reliable network connectivity.
The two convicts have been granted 14 days to lodge an appeal against both conviction and sentence.
