Pardoned man behind bars again, accused of stealing in church

A 26-year-old man who was released from jail Friday has been arraigned and charged in a Nyahururu court after he allegedly stole money from a church in Laikipia West on Sunday.

Lucas Ngugi Kihara appeared before Nyahururu Chief Magistrate Judith Wanjala, and he was charged of unlawfully stealing church offering amounting to Ksh900 shillings during a Sunday service at Ol-Jabet APCE Church.

One of the church members confirmed the allegations, saying that they saw the accused stashing cash in his pocket during the offertory session.

Kihara, however, denied the allegations, saying that he was trying to find change to contribute as his offering.

Wanjala directed that the accused be released on a Ksh10, 000 cash bail, a ruling that was objected by the prosecution. Lead Prosecutor by Alice Rugut said that Kihara had just been released from jail on presidential pardon, and could not re-appear before the court for the case proceedings.

The magistrate has ordered that the suspect be remanded in police custody until Wednesday November 2, 2016, when the case will be heard.

The accused was among the 7,000 convicts that were set free by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Madaraka Day.

Story by Peter Mwangi

Written by Velma Barasa