Nakuru, Kenya — August 1, 2025
Nakuru court fines James Juma Wekesa and Kevin Barasa Nyongesa KSh 1 million each or 1.5 years in jail for removing a road bump sign along Nakuru–Kabarak Road, under Kenya’s Scrap Metal Act.
Two men in Nakuru County have been handed hefty penalties for vandalizing crucial road infrastructure, in a ruling aimed at curbing a rising trend of highway vandalism that endangers motorists.
James Juma Wekesa and Kevin Barasa Nyongesa were found guilty of removing a road bump warning sign along the Nakuru–Kabarak Road, near Kabarak University in Rongai Sub‑County. The Chief Magistrateruled that each man must pay a KSh 1 million fine, or serve one and a half years in prison if unable to pay.
The case was prosecuted under Section 24(1) and (2) of the Scrap Metal Act, 2015, which criminalizes the destruction of public infrastructure. According to court records, the men were arrested after members of the public reported the missing signage, which posed a significant risk to road users.
“This court will not condone actions that compromise public safety. The penalty imposed should serve as a warning to anyone tempted to engage in such acts of vandalism,” the magistrate said during the ruling.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) lauded the ruling, noting that stolen or destroyed traffic signage has caused multiple road accidents in the past. “We urge members of the public to report cases of vandalism, as the safety of motorists depends on the integrity of road signs,” a KeNHA spokesperson said.
Road safety experts have long warned that theft of traffic signage, often driven by the scrap metal trade, is a silent but deadly threat. Missing speed bumps and warning signs can result in fatal accidents, especially on rural stretches and near learning institutions such as Kabarak University.
The judgment comes amid heightened government efforts to safeguard public infrastructure, with authorities warning that vandals will face stiffer penalties under Kenya’s infrastructure protection laws.
