Notorious power theft suspect arraigned over transformer and electricity equipment theft in Mukuru

Kenya Power’s Nairobi Region Security team has arrested a notorious suspect believed to be responsible for illegal power connections within Mukuru Kwa Reuben area.

The suspect, Lukas Nyangau Minyonga, was arraigned in court today to take plea on 3 (three) charges and was released on a KSh1.5 million bond. He was jointly charged with three other accused persons who first appeared before the Makadara Law Courts on 1 July 2026.

The four faced charges related to theft of transformer, illegal electricity connections and handling stolen electricity distribution equipment belonging to Kenya Power. The case will be mentioned on 4 August, 2026.

“Illegal electricity connections, vandalism and other criminal activities within the grid are a great impediment to our commitment to provide reliable and safe electricity to light up our homes and drive livelihoods. They pose a danger of loss of life through electrocution not just to the perpetrators but unsuspecting public. I want to commend the Kenya Power security team for working round the clock to ensure that these vices are dealt with in the full force of the law,” said Dr. (Eng.) Joseph Siror, Kenya Power’s Managing Director & CEO.

Nyangau was nabbed during a surveillance and ambush operation that was mounted by the Kenya Power Security team along Mombasa Road on Tuesday, 7 July 2026.

Besides overseeing illegal power connections and distribution, Mr. Nyangau is also linked to a series of transformer theft incidents within Nairobi as well as installation of the same in Mukuru Kwa Njenga informal settlement. Recently, the company fired three employees who were investigated and found to have aided Nyangau’s illegal power connection activities.

The suspect is also linked to the recent assault of a Kenya Power employee who was on duty during a security operation within Mukuru slums.

“We are grateful for the support we are receiving from the National Security organs, ODPP and the Judiciary in the fight against these criminal activities. As we scale this fight higher, I urge members of the public to report any suspicious activity on the electricity network to the police or the nearest Kenya Power office for action,” said Siror.

The arrest of Nyangau comes a week after the Nairobi Region Security team intercepted and nabbed three suspects transporting a 100 kVA transformer valued at KSh1.2 million on a vehicle truck believed to be heading to Mukuru Kwa Ruben slums.