Vandals target high-voltage lines as KETRACO opens public reporting hotline

The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) has established a direct emergency hotline to counter rising incidents of infrastructure damage on high-voltage transmission assets across the country. Members of the public can now report activities threatening the national grid through the toll-free number 991.

This intervention comes amid heightened concerns over systemic damage to electricity transmission systems. According to state officials, the destruction of power transmission infrastructure disrupts electricity supply, affecting communities, businesses, and overall economic development.

The state-owned corporation, which plans, designs, constructs, and maintains the high-voltage electricity transmission grid, has historically faced challenges with materials theft. The targeting of copper wires, transmission towers, and related accessories has frequently forced grid operators to navigate costly repairs and unscheduled blackouts.

By rolling out a public toll-free line, the utility provider attempts to crowdsource real-time monitoring. Security analysts note that local community integration remains critical for safeguarding assets spanning thousands of kilometers across remote terrains.

The government maintains that protecting infrastructure requires collective vigilance. Citizens observing suspicious movements around pylons and substations are urged to utilize the new channel to report incidents immediately to authorities.