A Nairobi-based caretaker, on Friday, March 17, confessed that he stole Ksh6 million from his tenants and employers.
The agent, reported to have been collecting rent for two agencies, confessed to Milimani senior principal magistrate, Bernard Ochoi, that he received and retained deposits from tenants in 2020.
The properties are based in Ngara and Kahawa Estate and are usually rented by university students based in Nairobi.
Records indicated that most students were drawn from the University of Nairobi (UoN) and Kenyatta University (KU).
State Prosecutor James Gachoka questioned the accused about the deposits, cross-examining him to a confession.
Prosecutor Gachoka wondered, “After several meetings with Mr X about the rent received and deposits retained, you issued a cheque of Ksh935,500."
The accused concurred with the prosecutor, who further probed and ascertained that caretaker prepared lease agreements which tenants signed without the landlords' permission.
"Yes, I prepared lease agreements, in the name of the agencies, which I gave tenants to sign," he admitted.
As to whether he had express authority from his landlords to make the leases, the caretaker acknowledged that he acted independently.
The prosecutor produced cheques and leases under the name of one agency the caretaker used to steal the funds.
On February 14, 2023, the court ruled that he had a case to answer and put the agent on his defence.
He was charged with stealing Ksh4,390,560 from one agency and Ksh1,743,340 from another, totalling Ksh 6,133,900.
