Man Rescued By Sonko For Shoplifting, Back In Jail

A man who was rescued from serving a jail sentence for shoplifting by Mombasa gubernatorial hopeful, Mike Sonko, has been arrested again.

Alvin Chivondo, a serial shoplifter, was on Thursday, May 19, night arrested over the same offence at a supermarket along Ronald Ngala Street within Nairobi's Central Business District.

He was taken into police custody after officers were called by the supermarket after he was allegedly caught with maize flour.

An image representation of a man in handcuffs behind bars

File

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The 21-year-old is currently being held at the Central Police Station awaiting charges once police conclude investigations.

Central Police OCPD, David Baariu, confirmed that Chivondo was being held at the station and he may be arraigned to answer to charges of stealing.

Milimani Chief Magistrate, Wendy Kagendo, had found Chivondo guilty of the offence of shoplifting and handed him a one-year prison sentence or a fine of Ksh100,000.

The sentence was handed to the man after he pleaded guilty to the offence of stealing 5 kgs of rice, 5 litres of cooking oil, 2 kgs of sugar, and tea leaves, all valued at Ksh3,165.

Justice Kagendo's decision was received with mixed reactions, with a majority of Kenyans terming it as harsh and unrealistic for a man who was trying to fend for his family.

A number of Kenyans opined that her ruling was an illustration of Kenya's failed justice system, especially after the Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, postponed the prosecution of politicians facing graft charges until after August 9 polls.
 
However, Kenyans.co.ke established that the sentence was handed to the man as he was a repeat offender. According to the charge sheet, the suspect had been caught shoplifting from the same retail store on April 3.

A file photo of maize flour on display at a supermarket in Nairobi.

Mike Sonko paid his fine and bought him foodstuff. The young man was also offered a job by the politician.

“We have offered Alvin Chivondo a job at our Upper Hill offices and our team in the office has shown him what his job entails," Sonko stated at the time.