A man who destroyed telecom equipment worth over Ksh 5.1 million in Taita Taveta will now spend 10 years behind bars.
Jacob Mutungi Matolo was convicted and sentenced by Taveta Senior Principal Magistrate Cecilia Kithinji, who ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Court records show that between April and July 2025, Matolo and accomplices broke into the Kidongu Communication Tower in Taita Taveta Sub-County, which belongs to American Tower Corporation.
They cut, damaged and vandalised equipment valued at Ksh 5,118,546 in an attempt to steal it.
The stolen items were later recovered from Matolo and positively identified by American Tower officials as their property.
Matolo had been charged with tampering with a telecommunications plant contrary to Section 32(c) of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, stealing contrary to the Penal Code, and an alternative count of handling stolen property.
The prosecution, led by Principal Prosecution Counsel Charles Mogaka, called four witnesses and presented documentary and physical evidence.
In her ruling, Magistrate Kithinji warned that vandalising communication infrastructure cripples networks, businesses and emergency response.
Matolo was jailed for 10 years and given 14 days to appeal.
