Two suspects are staring at spending the rest of their lives in prison on suspicion of vandalising a railway line in Lugari, Kakamega County.

Geoffrey Kiprotich and Nicholas Macharia were arrested during an intellegance-led joint operation by officers from Bungoma Railways, Kipkaren Railways patrol base, and Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) security unit.

Led by Inspector Joseph Muchele, the officers raided the home of 35-year-old Kiprotich where they recovered 65 pandrol clips hidden inside his house.

“After a brief interrogation, Kiprotich revealed the identity of his accomplice, Nicholas Macharia, 60, a resident of Mwamba area, in Lugari,” a police report says.

Authorities say that Kiprotich confessed to them that Macharia is responsible for transporting the vandalized items to an undisclosed dealer.

Consequently, Macharia was arrested at his home, and both suspects are currently in custody at Bungoma Central Police Station pending arraignment.

Investigations are ongoing to identify the end recipient of the stolen items and to recover additional railway infrastructure.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is now reminding the public railway vandalism is a serious criminal offense under Kenyan law. “Individuals found engaging in such activities will face arrest, prosecution, and severe penalties.”

According to Section 339(2)(c) of the Penal Code, any person caught vandalising railway infrastructure is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life.