Court gavel./FILE
A man convicted of vandalising telecommunications infrastructure worth more than Sh5.1 million in Taveta, Taita Taveta County, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Jacob Mutungi Matolo was sentenced by Senior Principal Magistrate Cecilia Kithinji after the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that he tampered with and vandalised a telecommunications plant belonging to American Tower Corporation.
The court heard that between April and July 2025, Matolo, acting alongside others, forcibly accessed the Kidongu Communication Tower in Taita Taveta Sub-County and vandalised and severed telecommunications equipment valued at Sh5,118,546, allegedly with the intention of stealing it.
Following investigations, some of the vandalised equipment was recovered from Matolo and positively identified by officers from American Tower Corporation.
Matolo faced two counts of tampering with a telecommunications plant under Section 32(c) of the Kenya Information and Communication Act, Cap. 411A, as well as a charge of stealing under Section 268 as read with Section 275 of the Penal Code. He also faced an alternative charge of handling stolen property.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Charles Mogaka presented four witnesses and produced documentary and physical exhibits to support the case.
In her ruling, Magistrate Kithinji found that the evidence, including witness testimony and exhibits, sufficiently established Matolo’s involvement in the offences and warranted his conviction.
The court subsequently sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment. Matolo was also granted 14 days within which to appeal the conviction and sentence.
