An Eldoret court has sentenced two men to one year in jail each after they pleaded guilty to stealing mobile phones in separate incidents. The court ruled that both men could alternatively pay fines to avoid jail time.
In the first case, Amos Ekale Erupe, a casual laborer, was convicted for stealing a mobile phone worth Ksh. 11,000 from his employer. Eldoret Principal Magistrate Caroline Wattimah sentenced him to a one-year jail term or a Ksh. 20,000 fine.
The court heard that the incident took place on January 3, 2025, at Moi’s Bridge town in Uasin Gishu County. Erupe had been hired by Paul Umbuge for a casual job on his farm. After completing his work, he was paid and later invited by his employer for a drink at a local club. When it got late, Umbuge welcomed him into his home for the night.
However, in the morning, Umbuge woke up to find that Erupe had left, taking with him a phone that had been left charging in the living room. In his defense, Erupe admitted to the crime and pleaded for leniency, citing that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time. Despite his plea, the court upheld the sentence, noting that theft under any circumstances could not be condoned.
In a separate case, another man, Nicholas Kiplagat, was found guilty of stealing a Tecno mobile phone worth Ksh. 14,500. The court heard that Kiplagat had been entrusted with the phone by his friend, Allan Kipkorir, who was playing volleyball at Uasin Gishu Primary School in Eldoret. Instead of returning it, he disappeared with the device.
Kiplagat also pleaded guilty to the charges, leading Magistrate Wattimah to fine him Ksh. 25,000 or serve a year at Eldoret GK Prison.
Both cases highlight the legal consequences of theft, with the court emphasizing the need for personal responsibility and trustworthiness in society.
