Police in Mombasa have arrested two suspects after recovering approximately one tonne of stolen Kenya Power steel conductors during an intelligence-led operation in the Shanzu area.

According to the National Police Service (NPS), officers from Bamburi Police Station acted on information that a group of young men had been spotted with wire cables suspected to have been stolen from Kenya Power infrastructure.

“Acting swiftly, the officers mounted an ambush in the Shanzu area, leading to the recovery of approximately one tonne of steel conductors that had been concealed in a bush,” the NPS said in a statement shared on its X account on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

Preliminary investigations established that the recovered conductors had been stolen from the Shanzu Substation. The two suspects were taken into custody and are expected to be arraigned in court to face relevant charges.

Police also recovered three mobile phones at the scene, which have been secured as exhibits to aid ongoing investigations. Detectives are pursuing additional suspects believed to be linked to the theft.

The NPS noted that vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructure continue to pose a major challenge to the country’s power network, disrupting electricity supply to homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and other essential services.

“The theft and vandalism of power infrastructure remain a serious threat to the country’s electricity network and economic development,” the service stated, adding that such crimes result in prolonged power outages, costly repairs and significant financial losses.

The police reaffirmed their commitment to protecting critical public infrastructure through enhanced patrols, intelligence-led operations and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

The service also appealed to members of the public to support the fight against vandalism by reporting suspicious activities through its toll-free emergency numbers or the anonymous reporting channels provided by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.