Several Naivasha estates left in darkness after street lights vandalized

Several estates in Naivasha have been left in darkness after unknown persons vandalized street lights in the last couple of weeks.

As a result, the Nakuru County government has lost millions of shillings as area MCAs sought maintenance funds through a supplementary budget to repair the affected lights.

Some of the street lights were put up during the World Rally Championship (WRC) while others were erected in informal settlements by the national government.

According to Lake View MCA Simon Wanyoike Wanango, the county had lost millions of shillings this financial year due to the vandalism that targeted the street lights.

He added that they shall be forced to go back to the county assembly and seek more funds through the supplementary budget so as to repair the damaged lights.

He also stated that the suspects had now turned to the ‘mulika-mwizi’ floodlights which were critical in dealing with crime and lighting up the informal settlements.

They are asking police to intervene and deal with the vandals who have turned estates into dark alleys after stealing all the lights.

On his part, John Njogu a resident of Lake View estate, said that in some cases they read mischief as the lights were vandalized and the parts left behind.

He noted that the problem started on the eve of Christmas when there was a major blackout in the town which led to vandalism of all the street lights.

He said all the streets that were fully lit a couple of weeks back are now in darkness after they were vandalized by unknown people.

A resident of Kihoto Mercy Muthoni noted that crime levels had increased in the estate after the only ‘mulika-mwizi’ flood light was vandalized.

She termed the floodlights as critical to the business community which was working up to midnight adding that this was no longer possible.

They are asking the relevant security agents to investigate and deal with those involved in vandalism as it has affected their business and seen an increase in crime levels.