Kitui County Commissioner Boaz Cherutich. (Photo/Lawrence Kioko/hivisasa.com)
Police in Mutomo, Kitui South, yesterday nabbed a suspect found in possession of 3,335 liters of diesel allegedly stolen from Sinohydro Corporation which is tarmacking the Kitui – Kibwezi road.
Kitui County Commissioner Boaz Cherutich on Thursday told journalists in his office that Bernard Mbithi was apprehended after police found 20 drums of the fuel, valued at Sh266,000, stashed in his warehouse in Mutomo town.
Cherutich said the diesel was stolen from the firm’s site at Ikuth approximately 30 kilometers from Mutomo.
He said the suspected fuel cartel member was set to appear in court today.
“We also suspect that the culprits have been conniving with some employees of the road construction firm but we will eventually get all of them,” said the county commissioner.
He as well warned individuals conducting the illegal fuel trade of facing the full force of the law.
“No one will be allowed to interfere with smooth running of the roadworks for the sake of selfish and criminal endeavors at the expense of development for Kitui residents,” Cherutich added.
The recovered fuel, he said, was transported to Mutomo Police Station as investigations into the crime syndicate continue to ensure all involved culprits are brought to book.
The 192-kilometer Kitui – Kibwezi road, which is reportedly the only Class B road countrywide that has remained untarmacked since Kenya’s independence in 1963, is being upgraded to bitumen standards at an estimated cost of Sh18.4 billion.