A man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of vandalising telecommunications infrastructure worth more than Ksh 5.1 million at a communication tower in Taveta, Taita Taveta County.

Jacob Mutungi Matolo was sentenced by Senior Principal Magistrate Cecilia Kithinji after the Director of Public Prosecutions proved beyond reasonable doubt that he tampered with and vandalised a telecommunications plant belonging to American Tower Corporation.

Matolo faced two counts of tampering with a telecommunications plant contrary to Section 32(c) of the Kenya Information and Communication Act, Cap. 411A, and stealing contrary to Section 268 as read with Section 275 of the Penal Code, alongside an alternative charge of handling stolen property.

The court heard that between April and July 2025, Matolo, acting with others, forcibly accessed the Kidongu Communication Tower in Taita Taveta Sub-County and unlawfully vandalised and severed equipment valued at Ksh 5,118,546 with the intention of stealing it.

Investigations subsequently led to the recovery of the vandalised items from Matolo, which were positively identified by officers from American Tower Corporation.

The prosecution, led by Principal Prosecution Counsel Charles Mogaka, presented four witnesses alongside documentary and physical exhibits.

Magistrate Kithinji found that the evidence sufficiently established Matolo’s involvement in the offences and warranted his conviction.

Matolo was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment and granted 14 days within which to appeal.