Caleb Abinayi and Kelvin Macharia at the Makadara Law Courts on May 12, 2023.
A motor vehicle that was taken from a police station’s parking lot was driven away by a matatu driver and his conductor, who admitted their crime.
Conductor Caleb Abinayo and his driver Kelvin Kamau Macharia were accused of stealing Boniface Waithaka’s 14-seater matatu on May 8 for the sum of Sh800,000.
On Friday, they admitted guilt in front of Chief Magistrate Francis Kyambia at the Makadara Law Courts.
After being detained in Mai Maahiu, Nakuru County, on May 11, the two were initially charged with handling stolen items; however, this allegation was withdrawn once they pleaded guilty to theft.
Separately, Mr. Abinayo is accused of violating Section 129(b) of the Penal Code by providing false information to a person who works for the government.
Abinayo was charged with falsely reporting the theft of his matatu from the Mwiki Police Station yard on May 8 to Police Constable John Kago and his colleagues.
Abinayo went to the yard and drove the matatu away as the car was being kept at the station for examination after being confiscated by the police.
He later showed up, saying he was the owner and that the car had been stolen.
Abinayo proceeded to give the police a statement about the incident.
Later, Mr. Waithaka showed up at the station and reported the matatu missing while the police were looking into the crime.
In addition, Mr. Waithaka provided the police with a statement and the vehicle’s log book.
He disclosed to the police that a tracking device on the matatu had been used to locate Maai Mahiu.
Police officers at the Mwiki police station alerted their counterparts around the country to stop the matatu if they saw one. The two suspects were detained when it was seized in Maai Mahiu’s Gatarakwa neighborhood.
The two accused were held without bail until May 15.
