Woman charged with handling stolen copper cables valued at Ksh.1.6 million

Several bags of copper cables valued at over Ksh.1.6 million were produced in court on Wednesday as prosecution evidence in a case where a woman has been charged with handling stolen energy equipment.

Investigating officer Nicholas Ole Sina told the court that the recovered items included high-voltage copper cables and components from Safaricom, KETRACO, and American Telecommunications. He explained that these types of wires are often vandalised, with a street value of about Ksh.1,000 per kilogram.

The officer further told the court that the accused, Sheilah Chao Mwaikwasi, had no registration certificate as required by law and could not provide any documentation or contact details to show the source of the cables.

During cross-examination by defence lawyer Danstan Omari, Ole Sina admitted there was no direct documentation linking the recovered items to KETRACO. He added that the wires had no identification, but a witness in the case identified and labelled the bags.

When asked about licences to operate a scrap business, Ole Sina said Mwaikwasi is licensed as an importer but could not present documents proving where she obtained the copper. 

Through her lawyer, the court heard that Mwaikwasi purchased the cables from several suppliers, including East Africa Cables, Esco Uganda Limited, Tanaleco in Tanzania, a Chinese company, and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia. She also claimed to have acquired some items at Lake Turkana and through Phillips International auctioneers.

Mwaikwasi faces multiple charges of handling energy equipment contrary to Section 169(1)(c) of the Energy Act No. 1 of 2019. 

The prosecution told the court 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 earthing copper and related components used for 132KV, 220KV, and 400KV installations, valued at Ksh.1,679,600, belonging to the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO).

She is also accused in separate counts of handling 330 kilograms of copper windings valued at Ksh.429,000, property of the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC); 134 kilograms of earthing wires valued at Sh147,400, property of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA); and 139 kilograms of copper bus bars and cables worth Sh500,000, property of American Towers Corporation (ATC).

Investigators allege that Mwaikwasi knew, or had reason to believe, that the copper was stolen or unlawfully obtained.

The prosecution said the items are commonly used in major electricity and telecommunications installations and are frequently targeted by vandals and scrap metal dealers.

Mwaikwasi has denied all the charges.

The prosecution and the defense told the court that they will not be outing any submissions in the case.

Trial magistrate Robinson Ondieki will deliver a ruling on November 17, 2025.