Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday announced a moratorium on scrap metal trade in the country as part of government efforts to end the rising cases of vandalism of key public installations
Kenyatta cited Kenya has imposed a total ban on scrap metals after vandals caused a nationwide blackout on Saturday. The president equated it to terrorism and economic sabotage
Increased vandalism of government infrastructure, which he described as economic sabotage, which he said, falls under treasonable acts.
“The law is clear. These acts are nothing less than economic sabotage which fall under treasonable acts and the law is clear as to how we deal with treasonable acts. We will not allow you to destroy that which is for the growth and development of our country to benefit a few individual pockets,” he said in a statement released in the capital, Nairobi.
He said the moratorium would stay in place until after the government puts in place adequate measures to effectively police the sourcing, trade and export of scrap metal, warning that those found culpable for vandalism of state infrastructure will be dealt with firmly.
Kenyatta who referred to recent vandalism of electricity transmission infrastructure, the Standard Gauge Railway and communication masts, termed the acts as economic sabotage, saying the government will not tolerate the destruction.
