Machakos County intensifies crackdown to recover stolen electric meters

Machakos County has stepped up efforts to recover stolen electricity meters after a verification exercise revealed that 200 out of 1,800 meters serving public institutions had been stolen.

During the crackdown, officials discovered one of the missing meters installed at a residential property, with records showing the county had already paid Ksh1.6 million for its usage.

“During the crackdown exercise, Chief Officer Energy Mr. Kirima revealed that Meter number 1175624 Account number 45067531 belonging to Machakos County was found at a residential property,” read a statement issued by Machakos County government.

“The account balance was reading Ksh205,951 and cumulatively the county government has already paid Ksh1.6 million shillings for this particular meter. The County government is running into millions of losses as a result.”

Machakos County Energy Director Newton Musyoka has issued a seven-day ultimatum for individuals in possession of county-owned meters to return them or face legal action.

Kenya Power is also working with local authorities to track down the stolen meters.