A suspect charged with preparing food in unsanitary conditions was released, after moving the judge with her sad deadbeat dad story.
The suspect, Josey Karendi, appeared before Magistrate Edward Tsimonjero in a Meru court with her five-month daughter on her back.
Karendi broke down in tears after her charges were read, prompting the magistrate to ask her if the facts were an accurate representation of what actually happened.
She then went on to narrate her story which involved the absentee father to her daughter, and the circumstances which led her to sell “chips mwitu” by the roadside in the outskirts of Meru town.
Speaking through her tears, the single mother narrated to the court on how she fell in love with the man she thought she’d grow old with, only for him to leave when she needed him the most.
The love of her life and provider walked away the moment she informed him she was with child, and never looked back.
“Tulikuwa tunakaa na yeye lakini wakati nilipata boli akaniwacha na sijawahi muona tangu wakati huo (We used to live together but he ran away as soon as I told him I was pregnant, I have never seen or heard from him since),” she told the court while battling tears.
She was forced to come up with a way to earn a living to support her unborn child, which is what led her to sell chips by the roadside.
Karendi told the court that her business venture was the only way she could provide for herself as well as her 5-month-old daughter since her lover fled from his parental responsibilities.
In his judgment, magistrate Tsimonjero stated that Karendi’s backstory leading up to her crime was heart-rending and thus set her free, but advised her to check on the hygienic conditions at her workplace.
“We have listened to your mitigation and the circumstances under which the offence was committed. Consequently, the accused is discharged 35 (1) of the penal code. You must strive to maintain high standards of hygiene,” the magistrate announced in his ruling.
