State bets on CCTV to catch highway vandals
The government wants to install CCTV cameras on the country’s multibillion infrastructure projects and increase fines and jail terms for those who vandalise and make away with road furniture.
In a report on Kenya’s infrastructure, energy and ICT, the National Treasury said vandalism will soon be classed as a major crime and not a petty crime.
Currently vandalism is not considered stealing and is covered under the energy Act and not the penal code.
Under the energy law, a person who vandalises or damages any works of or under the control of a licensee attracts a fine of not less than Kes5 million, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than five years.
Lawyers say the State now wants to add vandalism in the penal code, streamline fines and jail terms and include definitions that will help protect the multibillion projects.
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“The sector will also put mechanisms in place for surveillance and deterrence of vandalism of critical infrastructures as well as advocate for the reclassification of the vandalism to a criminal offense from a petty crime,” the Treasury said in the energy infrastructure ICT sector report.
The Treasury says vandalism of infrastructure was also rampant which escalated the cost for maintenance and restoration.
Recently, vandals sawed away sections of the Makupa Causeway in Mombasa County which serves the Moi International Airport and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
The vandals made away with two out of four beams supporting the bridge from below, effectively compromising its structural integrity.
However, the deck of the bridge which was made of reinforced concrete, is still making the bridge usable at the moment.
