Man handed 1-year jail term for stealing employer’s phone

An Eldoret court has ordered a casual labourer who stole a Ksh.11,000 worth mobile phone from his employer to pay a fine of Ksh.20,000 in default to serve one year in jail.

Appearing before Eldoret Principal Magistrate Caroline Wattimah, Amos Ekale Erupe pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing contrary to 268 as read with section 275 of the penal code.

Erupe appealed to the court to have mercy on him saying that he stole from his employer on the fateful day under the influence of alcohol.

He is accused of committing the said offence on January 3, 2025 at Moi’s Bridge town in Uasin Gishu county where he is said to have stolen the phone from Paul Umbuge.

The court heard that the complainant, who is well known to the accused person, hired him for some casual job on his land at a fee.

When the accused person was through with the task, the complaint paid him his dues before inviting him for a drink at a local club.

The court was further told that when it got dark, the complainant again invited the accused to his home where they spent the night.

According to court documents, Erupe woke up the following day leaving his host still asleep in his bed.

When Umbuge woke up, he realized that his guest had already left with his mobile phone that he had left in the living room for charging.

In the same court, a jobseeker was slapped with a Ksh. 25,000 fine or to serve one year in prison after he pleaded guilty to stealing a mobile phone he was entrusted to hold for a friend who was playing volleyball at a public primary school field.

Nicholas Kiplagat is said to have committed the said office at Uasin Gishu primary school within Eldoret town.

The charge against him states that he stole the tecno phone valued at Ksh.14,500, the property of Allan Kipkorir.

In her judgment the Principal Magistrate fined Kiplagat Kshs. 25,000 orserve one year at Eldoret GK. Prison.