Kenya Power says criminals extract the fluid from the transformers, which is then sold by cartels to restaurants and roadside stalls for frying food.

The recent increase in vandalism has been linked to the rising cost of cooking oil, which has forced some businesses to turn to unorthodox methods to try and keep afloat.

Health experts warn that transformer oil, which looks like cooking oil, is unsafe for human consumption and poses serious health risks.

Other gangs interfere with the power connection and then extort money from the public and businesses in order to restore supply.

In a statement, the state-run company said there was a sharp increase in vandalism in central Kenya, where nearly 20 transformers had been destroyed or interfered with.

Harrison Kamau, the company’s business manager in Murang'a county, cited an incident where a vandal “was electrocuted on top of a transformer while attempting to remove/return fuses”.

“He is currently admitted to the Thika General Hospital with life-threatening injuries,” the Kenya Power official said.

At least 22 people have recently been arrested and their cases are currently in court.

Kenya Power has now started a nationwide awareness campaign about the dangers of vandalising the grid.

It comes as the company struggles with constant power blackouts.

In January, a national blackout seen as the worst in years was blamed on vandalism of steel pylons for scrap metal, which led to the collapse of the power grid.