"Waling'oa reli!" Police looking for robbers who vandalised railway line

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives have launched a manhunt operation for vandals who destroyed a railway line in Burgei village in Rongai, Nakuru County.

Reports indicate that the robbers had loaded 65 rails and 120 slippers into a waiting lorry when police officers from Rongai Police Station accosted them a few minutes to midnight last night.

"But on sighting the officers, the loaders and the lorry driver immediately took off leaving the lorry registration number KCH 646T loaded with the vandalized materials," DCI says.

The Rails and Slippers had been vandalized from the line that runs from Rongai to Kampi ya Moto and Solai.

In January this year, former President Uhuru Kenyatta banned the export and import of scrap metals over the increased vandalism of critical national infrastructure and public materials by unscrupulous traders.

In one instance last year, vandalism of gauge blocks along the standard gauge railway line led to the stoppage of operations for two hours, as railway engineers and security officers inspected the extent of the damage caused to the critical national transport infrastructure.

"We have seen vandalism of different sign boards and towers of our transmission lines. We have also seen clear cases of sabotage as was the case in Naivasha where people intentionally unbolted some of our transmission lines and masts to create chaos and havoc," Uhuru said.

Meanwhile, DCI has cautioned Kenyans against such acts saying anyone found guilty risks being charged with terrorism.

"Vandalism of critical national infrastructure is a serious offence and the suspects once arrested could face Economic Sabotage and Terrorism related charges," DCI adds.