A middle aged man that was arrested and arraigned and charged over stealing of 181KGs of meat during the Finance Bill 2024 protests has been released on a Ksh10 Million bond with a similar surety.
Jonathan Paul Mutua was charged of stealing 181KGs of goat meat during the June 25th demonstrations at Baniyas Square where Mutua and others who were not before the court took advantage of the situation to commit the offence.
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Kenyans have however expressed their dissatisfaction on the ruling, claiming that it’s a bit harsh for someone who stole 181KGs of meat as compared to bonds given to politicians who loot public resources and plunder the whole economy.
However, in addition to the meat, Mutua is also accused of stealing other items that amount to Ksh 37 Million among them electronics 105 bunches of managu in Eldoret.
Other items in the charge sheet include expensive alcohol, electronics, sound systems, utensils, gas cylinders, chairs which were all charged against Mutua with others who were not arrested.
While delivering the ruling, Eldoret principal Magistrate Cheronoh Kesse emphasised and considered several factors which according to her include property’s significant value that has been placed at Ksh 37 Million.
Kesse also said that the accused went against his right to peacefully picket and demonstrate by going against the law to break into private business and steal property worth millions of shillings.
Mutua was said to be arrested in his house where they found some of the items believed to have been stolen from the club after breaking the gate and stealing those items.
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Explaining the Ksh 10 Million bond, the prosecutor Sylvester Thuo told the court that the prosecution was not opposed to the suspect being released on bond but the terms should be strict.