President Kenyatta has come to the rescue of a 33-year-old Kenyan man who was handed a 2-year prison sentence last week after he was arrested carrying a snake.
Benedict Karissa Iha had stashed the 2.3-meter live python weighing 10 kilograms in a black suitcase and was waiting to cross the Likoni Ferry Channel in Mombasa when he was intercepted. This was after an X-ray scan showed the snake tucked in the travel case.
Appearing before Mombasa Resident Magistrate Vincent Adet on February 12th, Karissa pleaded guilty to the offense of being in a possession of a wildlife species without a permit.
In his ruling, magistrate Adet said the accused knew that he required a permit before handling the python, having previously worked with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
“I find that the accused, having worked with the KWS ought to have known that a permit was required in such circumstance,” the judgment read.
He was facing the charge of possession of a wild animal without a permit contrary to Section 95 (c) of the Wildlife Conservation Act.
The man was freed from Shimo La Tewa Prison on Friday after intervention by President Uhuru, according to Coast Regional Coordinator John Elungata.
Elungata divulged that Kenyatta paid the alternative Sh1 million fine slapped on him by the court. He was further given bus fare of Sh8,340 to his home in Mtwapa, Kilifi County.
Speaking to Daily Nation on Friday, Karisa said he had been given the python by his father, Jackson Charo, 70, who has been rescuing snakes for over four decades. He said they have been taking the snakes to a park in Diani once they rescue them.
“Every time my father is called by villagers to go and fetch a snake, he asks me to transport it to Diani for safe custody. This has been the norm but this time round I was nabbed at around 8 am at the Likoni channel. I called my father and informed him of the development,” he said.
“I had forgotten my permit. I realized my goose was cooked.”
The magistrate said Karisa’s explanation on where he was taking the snake was not convincing and fined him Sh1 million or a 2-year prison term in default.
Uhuru has done a good job…
Uhuru has done a good job. But he is the President of Kenya. He should address the issue of all those people languishing in Prison for no apparent reason. Some were not guilty while others were harshly sentenced by our Judges who justify the jail terms instead of justifying the setting free to our poor citizens. Our press is trying hard to bring the light to the public but our Judges I guess don’t watch TV.
A very fair deal Mr…
A very fair deal Mr. President! I had started wondering why petty criminals are getting jailed while DP Ruto is still roaming on the streets with all sorts of crimes; corruption, scams and theft of Kenya’s coffers included!
Thank you Mr. President for being kind to this poor young man! At least he was stealing a wild beast of the lowest form! Hope he learns a lesson!!
Do us a favor Mr. President; please turn around and put your DP Ruto in Kamiti prison for corruption and other crimes! Thank you.
Fair deal my foot! You must…
Fair deal my foot! You must be that naive! It’s called buying back the omweri for Babas businesses.! How can the court punish a ‘ handshake’ vudu rep?
Thanks Mr President. Rich…
Thanks Mr President. Rich murderous have been escaping jail while very poor Kenyans who have no money to buy their own freedom are locked up in jail. They are locked up for very miner offenses like drinking the local brew, smoking grass, loitering, being poor, transporting snakes and frogs,tramped up charges etc. Free them up Mr President.
On behalf of Benedict…
On behalf of Benedict Karissa i thank you from the bottom of his heart.
On my behalf I’m saying there are many thousands of kenyans in jail for no good reason. You cannot deal with this issue on piecemeal basis. Convene a national commission on prison, give them hefty sitting allowances and perks. Think!
What were his intentions…
What were his intentions with the python is that not how corona started in China?People eating weird meat .Uhuru there are more urgent needs example a sick Kenyan child in India needs help to undergo surgery .In our own local hospitals mothers are chained to their beds because they cannot pay the bill do not forget Kenyan students in India while other countries take care of their own you are sending money assuming that will help them assuming it even reaches them