Former Tuskys supermarket cashier Nelson Chuma Okelo pleaded guilty for stealing from Naivas supermarket on Moi Avenue in Nairobi but surprisingly the magistrate sided with him.
Okelo stole 20 litres of Ufuta oil whose value was Ksh4,203 and a packet of KCC Gold crown Milk 500ml valued at Ksh50 on Wednesday September 1st 2021.
Police report indicates that Okelo walked into Naivas supermarket Moi Avenue branch, picked the two items and walked past the cashier without paying a coin.
The former Tuskys supermarket cashier failed to produce a receipt of the two items when he was stopped by security guards outside Naivas supermarket.
The 30-year-old was arrested and taken to Central Police Station before he was produced in court on Thursday where he was charged with theft.
Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi however surprised many when he sided with Okelo while delivering his ruling.
Andayi heard that Okelo stole the two items because he wanted to venture into the fast food business after losing his job as a cashier at Tuskys supermarket.
Okelo pleaded guilty to the offence explaining that he can no longer afford to feed his wife and two children ever since he he lost his job after Tuskys Supermarket collapsed.
“I stole the cooking oil to start a chips business so as to provide for my family. Your honour, I have no means to feed my family. I was desperate,” Nelson told the court.
The magistrate empathized with the accused and further asked Naivas Supermarket to consider giving Okelo the 20 litres of cooking oil and one packet of milk which he had stolen.
“I know shoplifting is a crime and as I return the exhibit to the complainant, I ask the supermarket to consider giving the cooking oil back to this man whom we have listened to and noted that he is sincere,” Francis Andayi said.
In his ruling, Andayi further asked the probation officer to interview Okelo and file a report in court by September 5, 2021, to ascertain whether his narrative is true or false before sentencing him for the said offence.
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