Kenyan Restaurant Owner Jailed for Using Transformer Oil to Fry Potato Chips
A Nyandarua hotel owner was on Thursday sentenced to two years in prison or pay a Sh200,000 fine for selling potato chips fried using transformer oil.
Elijah Mwangi Muthoga, who operates a restaurant in Ol Kalou town, was arrested in December 2021 with 11 liters of transformer oil.
The court heard that the transformer oil was being used to cook chips at Muthoga’s hotel in addition to being repackaged for sale as popcorn cooking oil.
Muthoga’s co-accused Zachary Mwangi Gitau from whom he obtained the transformer oil, was sentenced to 10 years in prison or pay a fine of Sh10 million for vandalizing a 100kva transformer contrary to section 169 (1) of the Energy Act of 2019.
In a statement, Kenya Power welcomed the ruling, saying it is a boost to the State-run power distributer’s effort to fight transformer vandalism.
“This ruling is a big boost to the Company’s effort to fight transformer vandalism as the stiff penalties and jail terms will deter vandals,” said Kenya Power’s Ag. Manager for Security Services Maj. Paul Nyaga (Rtd).
Kenya Power cited the vandalism of transformers as one of the leading causes of power outages.
"In addition to undermining the quality and reliability of the electricity supply, transformer vandalism poses a risk of electrocution and exposes the Company to financial losses in lost sales and the cost of replacing the transformers," said Kenya Power.
Comments
The two Railas should have…
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The two Railas should have been charged with attempted mass murders.I wish the law was amended to have these types of murderers FACE MOB JUSTICE or FIRING SQUAD.
No words
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No words
Transformer oil is not…
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Transformer oil is not edible and is highly toxic. The hotelier should rot in jail. Those who ate the chips will have long lasting effects from the toxins that entered their bodies. The government should do a health check on these people especially the children. Why do some Kenyan business men and women love money more than they love lives?
https://www.pressreader.com…
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https://www.pressreader.com/zambia/daily-nation-newspaper/20201123/2816…
What about endangering the…
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What about endangering the lives of Kenyans? What do they get for that?
Unbelievable that when the…
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Unbelievable that when the victim is human only 2 years and when the victim is an object 10 yrs, it should be the way round.
Did I read that right? If so…
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Did I read that right? If so, hanging is in order!
Welcome to the 'Hustler…
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Welcome to the 'Hustler Nation" where anything goes.
This is bullshit! Why give…
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This is bullshit! Why give them an option of fine? They should go to jail and pay restitution! It is time we have mandatory sentencing in Kenya for all crimes including corruption cases. That is the only way we can have successes in fighting crime
This is what happens when…
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In reply to This is bullshit! Why give… by FRANCIS MUCHUGI (not verified)
This is what happens when you dont elect the right leaders. First of all the punishment,if you call it that is a traversty of justice. This low life subjects public to serious health risk and all he gets is pay,' Sh.200,000 or we jail you'.The option of fine should not even be entertained unless it is a retribution for pain and suffering caused by the criminal.
Iam also sure that he is not the only one in the country who has committed this offense.So what message are we sending to those who have not yet been snared by the long arm of the law?...Yes, just stash 200,000 aside and you will be OK.
All these care about is the…
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All these care about is the loss of transformers and profits. They don’t give a shit on people’s lives. Poor hustlers. You are on your own.
If we were to rank evils…
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In reply to All these care about is the… by Joe Kamande (not verified)
If we were to rank evils that need immediate attention,and thus immediate remedies,I would rank this one, way above homosexuality.Just compare the two... I say this because this poison from the tranformer oils has immediate negative effect on humanity,and proven to be detrimental to human, and Iam sure animal health.Not so with homosexuality,and yet our leaders have lately been fixated with homosexuality. Let's rethink our priorities.
This guy should be set free…
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This guy should be set free and continue cooking his chips. The so called leaders are still stealing and as a result many kenyans have died for lack of medication n even from starvation. Corruption is killing way more kenyans than this guy and yet we want him dead now. There are more dangerous chemicals in food consumed in kenya than you can never imagine so dont single this guy out unless you subscribe to that animal farm policy of some animals being more equal
What kind of oil does the…
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What kind of oil does the transformer use?
The energy company needs to…
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The energy company needs to install CCTVs at every place where there's a transformer. That way, people would think twice before engaging in such activities.
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