Several bags of copper cables valued at more than Sh1.6 million were presented before a Nairobi court as evidence in a case where a woman is accused of handling stolen energy materials belonging to key utility firms.
Investigating officer Nicholas Ole Sina told the court that the recovered items included high-voltage earthing cables and copper components used by Safaricom, KETRACO, and American Telecommunications. He said such materials are frequently targeted by vandals and sell for roughly Sh1,000 per kilogram in the black market.
Ole Sina testified that the accused, Sheilah Chao Mwaikwasi, did not have a registration certificate or supporting documents showing the source of the copper. He said the accused could not produce any proof of purchase or contact information for her alleged suppliers.
However, during cross-examination by her lawyer Danstan Omari, the officer admitted that there were no documents directly linking the recovered copper to KETRACO and that the wires lacked unique identification markings. He said a witness in the case had identified and labelled the items during investigations.
The court also heard that Mwaikwasi operates a licensed import business but failed to produce evidence showing how she acquired the materials. Her defence claimed she had lawfully purchased the items from multiple suppliers, including East Africa Cables, Esco Uganda Limited, Tanaleco in Tanzania, a Chinese firm, and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia, as well as through Phillips International Auctioneers and private sales in Lake Turkana.
Mwaikwasi faces several counts under Section 169(1)(c) of the Energy Act No. 1 of 2019 relating to handling energy equipment suspected to be stolen. The prosecution alleges that on January 30, 2024, at Industrial Area, Lunga Lunga Road, Embakasi South, she was found with 1,292 kilograms of high-voltage copper cables worth Sh1,679,600, property of KETRACO.
She also faces related counts involving 330 kilograms of copper windings valued at Sh429,000 (property of KPLC), 134 kilograms of earthing wires worth Sh147,400 (property of KeNHA), and 139 kilograms of copper bus bars and cables valued at Sh500,000 (property of American Towers Corporation).
Investigators claim Mwaikwasi knew or had reason to believe the copper was unlawfully obtained.
Both the prosecution and defence told the court they would not file written submissions in the case. Trial Magistrate Robinson Ondieki will deliver his ruling on November 17
