Two men have each been fined Ksh5 million or face 10 years in prison after being convicted of vandalising telecommunications infrastructure in Baringo County.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The Kabarnet Law Court found the pair guilty of tampering with telecommunication equipment contrary to the Kenya Information and Communications Act.

According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the offences were committed on separate occasions between September 26 and October 2, 2025, at Chemolingot Hill in Tiaty Sub-County.

The accused were found to have vandalised telecommunication installations and stolen cables and other network components valued at more than Ksh1.1 million.

📌 What You Need to Know

During the trial, the prosecution called nine witnesses who testified that the two planned and carried out the vandalism of the telecommunications booster stations.

The court also relied on forensic evidence, including mobile phone data, which placed both accused at the crime scenes around the time the infrastructure was vandalised.

Telecommunication infrastructure vandalism is considered a serious criminal offence in Kenya because it directly affects services relied upon by millions of people. The offence includes damaging, removing or interfering with communication cables, masts, booster stations and other network equipment.

Under the Kenya Information and Communications Act, anyone convicted of tampering with telecommunication infrastructure faces a minimum fine of Ksh5 million, at least 10 years' imprisonment, or both, depending on the circumstances of the case.

The National Broadband Strategy identifies infrastructure vandalism as one of the key obstacles to expanding reliable communication networks, warning that such incidents can disrupt mobile phone, internet and emergency communication services while increasing repair and security costs.

After reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecution, the court found the accused guilty and sentenced each of them to pay a fine of Ksh5 million or serve 10 years in prison in default.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke