A man who vandalised telecommunications equipment worth Sh5.1 million at a communication tower in Taita Taveta County has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Jacob Mutungi Matolo was handed the sentence by Senior Principal Magistrate Cecilia Kithinji after the prosecution proved that he tampered with and vandalised a telecommunications plant belonging to American Tower Corporation.
The case involved an attack on Kidongu Communication Tower in Taita Taveta Sub-County, where equipment was forcibly accessed, damaged and severed in an incident that left property valued at Sh5,118,546 destroyed.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the offence took place between April and July 2025, with Matolo accused of acting together with other people in targeting the telecommunications facility.
“The court heard that between April and July 2025, at Kidongu Communication Tower in Taita Taveta Sub-County, Matolo, acting with others, forcibly accessed the telecommunications facility and unlawfully vandalised and severed equipment valued at Sh5,118,546, with the intention of stealing it,” the ODPP said.
Matolo faced two counts of tampering with a telecommunications plant contrary to Section 32(c) of the Kenya Information and Communication Act, Cap. 411A.
He was also charged with stealing contrary to Section 268 as read with Section 275 of the Penal Code.
An alternative charge of handling stolen property was also brought against him under Section 322(1)(2) of the Penal Code.
Investigations into the incident later led to the recovery of the vandalised equipment from Matolo.
The items were then identified by officers from American Tower Corporation, linking the recovered property to the telecommunications facility that had been targeted.
“Investigations subsequently led to the recovery of the vandalised items from Matolo. The property was positively identified by officers from American Tower Corporation,” the ODPP said.
During the trial, the prosecution relied on witness accounts as well as physical and documentary evidence to prove its case.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Charles Mogaka led the prosecution team, which called four witnesses and presented exhibits before the court.
“Prosecution, led by Principal Prosecution Counsel Charles Mogaka PPC presented four witnesses and produced documentary and physical exhibits in support of the case,” the ODPP stated.
After considering the evidence presented during the trial, Magistrate Kithinji found that the prosecution had proved Matolo's involvement in the offences beyond reasonable doubt.
The court found that the evidence from the witnesses, together with the physical and documentary exhibits, was enough to connect Matolo to the vandalism.
“Hon. Kithinji found that the evidence presented by the prosecution, including witness testimony and exhibits, sufficiently established the accused's involvement in the offences and warranted his conviction,” the ODPP said.
Matolo was subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The court, however, gave him 14 days to appeal against both the conviction and sentence.
The case involved telecommunications equipment valued at Sh5,118,546, highlighting the financial cost linked to the destruction and theft of communication infrastructure.
The damaged facility was part of the telecommunications network, and the equipment was recovered during investigations before being positively identified by American Tower Corporation officers.
The prosecution's case was supported by the recovered property, witness testimony and physical and documentary exhibits presented in court.
Matolo will serve the 10-year prison sentence unless a successful appeal leads a higher court to overturn or change the conviction or sentence.