By: Rhoda Bogeta
A Nairobi court on Wednesday heard evidence in a case where a woman is accused of handling stolen energy materials valued at more than Sh1.6 million.
Several sacks of high-voltage copper cables and components were produced in court as exhibits in the ongoing case against Sheilah Chao Mwaikwasi, who faces multiple counts of handling stolen property.
Investigating officer Nicholas Ole Sina testified that the recovered items included copper conductors and parts belonging to Safaricom, KETRACO, and American Telecommunications.
He told the court that such cables are frequently vandalised and fetch about Sh1,000 per kilogram in the scrap market.
Ole Sina further stated that the accused had no valid registration certificate as required by law and failed to produce any documentation or contact details indicating the source of the materials.
During cross-examination, defence lawyer Danstan Omari questioned the officer on whether there was direct proof linking the cables to KETRACO.
The witness admitted that the items had no specific identification marks but were later tagged by a prosecution witness who identified them.
The court also heard that Mwaikwasi held a licence as an importer but could not produce documents showing where the copper originated.
Her lawyer, however, told the court that she lawfully purchased the materials from various suppliers, including East Africa Cables, Esco Uganda Limited, Tanaleco in Tanzania, a Chinese firm, and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia.
It was further claimed that she obtained additional items from Lake Turkana and through Phillips International auctioneers.
Mwaikwasi is charged with several counts of handling energy equipment contrary to Section 169(1)(c) of the Energy Act No. 1 of 2019.
The prosecution alleges that on January 30, 2024, at Industrial Area along Lunga Lunga Road in Embakasi South, Nairobi, she was found with 1,292 kilograms of high-voltage copper used in 132KV, 220KV, and 400KV installations, all valued at Sh1,679,600, said to be the property of Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO).
In other counts, she is accused of handling 330 kilograms of copper windings worth Sh429,000 belonging to Kenya Power (KPLC), 134 kilograms of earthing wires valued at Sh147,400 belonging to Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), and 139 kilograms of copper bus bars and cables valued at Sh500,000, property of American Towers Corporation (ATC).
Investigators allege that Mwaikwasi knew, or had reason to believe, that the copper cables had been unlawfully obtained.
The prosecution noted that such components are commonly used in major electricity and telecommunication projects and are often targeted by vandals and scrap dealers.
Mwaikwasi has denied all the charges.
Both the prosecution and defence indicated that they would not be filing any written submissions in the matter.
Trial magistrate Robinson Ondieki is expected to deliver a ruling on November 17.
