By Dorothy Musyoka
Three individuals, including two former Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) employees and a truck driver, have been convicted for stealing 13,852 litres of petroleum products from the KPC Kisumu terminal.
Reuben Andolo Aseneka, a former loading island operator; Joseph Mbugua Maina, a truck driver; and Mutai Micah, a former ICT employee, were found guilty on all six charges they faced.
The fuel, identified as motor spirit premium (MSP) valued at Ksh 2,431,178, was in KPC’s custody on behalf of various oil marketers.
In Count 1, the trio was convicted of conspiracy to commit a felony for orchestrating the fuel theft.
“In Count 1, all three were convicted of conspiracy to commit a felony for conspiring to steal the MSP, which had been loaded onto a road tanker (Reg. No. KBJ 564D/ZD 1453),” the ODPP noted.
In Count 2, all three were found guilty of theft of petroleum products.
Counts 3, 4, and 5 saw Aseneka and Mutai convicted of tampering with KPC’s fuel monitoring systems (Fuelfacs and Acculoads) and unauthorized access to KPC’s computer systems.
In Count 6, Mbugua was convicted of illegal possession of petroleum products.
The prosecution, led by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Catherine Mwaniki, alongside Patrick Okango and Shitsama Ligami, presented compelling evidence, including testimonies from 18 witnesses and physical exhibits, to demonstrate that the truck had illegally loaded the stolen fuel.
Kisumu Law Courts Chief Magistrate Hon. D.O. Onyango ruled that the prosecution had sufficiently proven its case.
He emphasized that the accused’s actions amounted to economic sabotage, a serious offense under Kenyan law.
Additionally, the court conducted a scene visit during the trial to assess the evidence.
The court has ordered that the three convicts remain in custody until February 18, 2025, when sentencing will take place.