Shoplifter awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to theft of cooking oil
A man who stole five litres of cooking oil at a supermarket in Nairobi is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of theft contrary to section 268 (1) as read with section 275 of the penal code.
Derrick Masheti Muhambi admitted in court that he stole the edible oil worth Sh1,310 at the Naivas Supermarket, the Point Mall branch, along Rabai Road in Nairobi on April 21, 2023.
Mr Muhambi had visited the supermarket posing as a customer. The then picked the oil jerrican and attempted to exit without paying.
However, the supermarket’s staffers manning the CCTV cameras within the supermarket noticed he was leaving without having paid and notified their colleagues at the exit where Mr Muhambi was intercepted.
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He attempted to flee upon which members of the staff raised an alarm. Members of the public within the mall responded and pursued Mr Muhambi and cornered him before he left the premises.
Police officers manning the mall were notified and proceeded to the scene where members of the public were baying for his blood.
The officers fired in the air to disperse the crowd and arrested Mr Muhambi who was taken to Jogoo Road Police Station together with the jerrican of oil he had stolen.
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Mr Muhambi admitted the charges before Principal Magistrate Lewis Gatheru. The case will be mentioned on May 5, 2023 when the prosecution will lay out its case against him and avail the oil as exhibit before the court, before he is sentenced.
Mr Muhambi was arraigned just a month after a woman who stole a loaf of bread, milk, cake, chocolate and toothpaste at a supermarket in Kayole, Nairobi pleaded guilty to theft charges at the same court.
Yvonne Wambui Wanjiru admitted that she stole the items all valued at Sh1,500 at the Muhindi Mweusi Supermarket on March 14, 2023.
Ms Wanjiru went to the retail outlet located at the Kayole Junction and picked the assorted food stuffs and attempted to leave the supermarket without paying before she was intercepted by security. She admitted the charges before Principal Magistrate Eric Mutunga of the same court.
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