A Nyandarua court on Thursday sentenced a man to two years in prison or pay a fine of Ksh.200,000 for selling potato chips cooked using transformer oil.

The accused, Elijah Mwangi Muthoga, who operates a hotel at Ol Kalou trading centre, was arrested in December 2021 while in possession of 11 litres of transformer oil.

According to court documents, the transformer oil was being used to cook chips at his hotel as well as repackaged for sale as popcorn cooking oil.

Mwangi was charged alongside Zachary Mwangi Gitau from whom he obtained the transformer oil. Gitau was sentenced to 10 years in prison or pay a fine of KShs. 10 million for vandalizing a 100kva transformer contrary to section 169 (1) of the Energy Act of 2019.

In a statement issued on Friday Kenya Power welcomed the court verdict, terming it as a boost to the Company’s effort to fight transformer vandalism.

“This ruling is a big boost to the Company’s effort to fight transformer vandalism as the stiff penalties and jail terms will deter vandals,” said Kenya Power’s Ag. Manager for Security Services Maj. Paul Nyaga (Rtd).

Kenya Power pointed out that vandalism of transformers is one of the leading causes of power outages. 

"In addition to undermining the quality and reliability of the electricity supply, transformer vandalism poses a risk of electrocution and exposes the Company to financial losses in lost sales and the cost of replacing the transformers," said Kenya Power.