Ten senior officials at Kenya Power have been detained for eight days to allow the police to complete investigations.
The Ten David Kamau,George Kipkoech,Julius Karani,Georfrey Kipkirui,Anthony Gathii,Martin Musyoki,Joshua Waskha,Raphael Ndolo and Peter Musyoki appeared before Kahawa Chief Magistrates Court where the police to have them detained for 21 days pending the completion of the investigations.
They are being represented by lawyer Danstan Omari,who argued that 21 days sought by the state were not worthy.
All Kenya Power records are in the custody of the State and they cannot escape the jurisdiction of the court.
“State has failed to understand the action being taken within the structure of Kenya Power, It is a bureaucracy like Judiciary that can be affected by lack of resources, “added Omari.
He added that it cannot be said that there was no action taken when that incident occurred.
Omari said this was a normal occurence of a blackout occurenec and not a terror offense.
“Even when we are here a blackout can happen,”he added.
He added that It is not the first blackout in the country, he said he wants the court to know the fact as to why George Kipkoech is in court,adding that if they were terrorist is not factual.
“If they were terrorists even the security officers will be here, “he added.
He said that State should be careful to act in the interest of Kenyans, they can be charged with any other offense but not terrorism.
Omari added that if there was negligence, it should be dealt with in the administration and disciplinary takes over as per the Kenya Power Act.
“My client being an engineer cannot interfere with other engineers, “he added,
Through an affidavit filed Investigation Officer Keith Robert an officer attached to DCI unit, the officers are being investigated on Sabotage claims against the law.
They are said that on December 9,2021,they sabotaged the power systems and caused a blackout in most parts of the country last week.
The officer said he wants more time to record numerous statements from junior officers at the Kenya Power Company as well as inviting independent engineers to access the probable cause of the collapse of towers.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), inaction by the management after the collapse of four towers with high voltage electric current led to a countrywide power blackout with businesses and Kenyans at large suffering unexpected losses.
“The systematic sabotage and likely commission of terrorism act could have resulted into a calamity, mass death and massive destruction of property and uncountable losses given the high voltage electric current that is conveyed by the said power line,” said the DCI
