Police have arrested three suspects caught red-handed siphoning fuel from a stationary train at the Sultan Hamud Railway Station, a critical node in the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) network.

The arrest by the Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU) exposes the vulnerability of the country’s most expensive infrastructure project. The suspects were intercepted with jerrycans and siphoning equipment, targeting the fuel meant to power the locomotives that drive Kenya’s cargo economy.

Protecting the Lifeline

Authorities have termed the theft as economic sabotage. Fuel theft not only causes financial loss but risks delaying cargo movement to the Port of Mombasa and the hinterland. This incident follows recent crackdowns on vandalism of railway sleepers in the same region.

• The Operation: Officers acted on intelligence to ambush the gang mid-operation.
• The Charge: The three will be charged with vandalism and theft of state property, crimes that now carry stiff penalties under new directives.
• The Context: The SGR is a prime target for scrap metal dealers and fuel syndicates, prompting the deployment of specialized police units.

"We will not allow a few greedy individuals to cripple the economy," a police spokesperson warned. The suspects are currently held at Sultan Hamud Police Station awaiting court.