ODM leader Raila Odinga has called for the unconditional release of a 21-year-old man who was jailed for shoplifting food items.
Alvin Linus Chivondo was sentenced to a year in prison or pay a fine of Sh100,000 after he pleaded guilty to stealing 5 litres of cooking oil, 5kgs of rice, ½kg of honey, ½kg of tea leaves, and 2kg of sugar worth Sh3,165 from Naivas Supermarket located at Development House, Moi Avenue in Nairobi.
The court heard that the accused posed as a customer before picking the items from the shelves and packing them into a non-woven carrier bag.
Chivondo was intercepted while attempting to exit the supermarket without paying for the goods.
Through Facebook, Raila termed Chivondo as a petty offender who should be freed, saying he was only trying to put food on his family’s table.
Odinga, who is the Azimio-One Kenya coalition presidential flagbearer, urged the justice system to go after serious criminals who are roaming in the country freely.
“Let Alvin Linus Chivondo be released unconditionally! Criminals are now getting a reprieve to campaign freely, while petty offenders are being jailed. Let the courts get their priorities right, for once, you can’t jail a man for trying to feed his family,” Odinga said.
While pleading for forgiveness, Chivondo told the court that he lost his source of income, adding that his family, including a four-month-old child, slept hungry for three days.
“I have a four-month-old baby and I couldn’t feed my family. Your honor, you can see I only stole food items. I can’t feed my family since I lost my job,” he said.
Bwana Raila, what powers are…
Bwana Raila, what powers are you using to demand this unconditional release? And if Chivondo is released as per your demand, shouldn’t the same apply to all Kenyans in jail under similar circumstances? Finally, is your economic policy going to be “the have nots should go and still for their needs from those who have it?”
I am an Avid fan of Raila…
I am an Avid fan of Raila but I should say this: It seems He never Learnt a Lesson from His Presidential Elections being STOLEN 3 Times in a Straight Row!!!
Savage Raila is encouraging…
Savage Raila is encouraging lawlessness in the name of high cost of living.He wants to be president but has already started his devilish/criminal acts.Some of his AGikuyu worshippers pretend not to remember how he violently seized all AGikuyu owned rental houses in Nairobi and gave them to his few tribesmen during his 07/08 PEV.He is the course of the high cost of living as an advocate of bloated idle non-performing govt.Hungry billionaire Kenyans must choose a govt which will enforce(NOT HANDSHAKE) the laws and downsize the govt by 75% to cut down taxation.Ingine yote ni POROJO,UNJINGA na UPUUZI TUPU.
A thief is a thief, right?…
A thief is a thief, right? Just like the peoples conman, right? Luckily, no mob justice!
Let Chivodo Go…
Let Chivodo Go unconditionally!!!
So you think what Chivondo…
So you think what Chivondo stole was Peanuts (Njugu) like you? Wait until you get Stolen one of thus Fine days. You’ll wish your Name was Mbuta and not Njugu.
Raila demand no rent payment…
Raila demand no rent payment unless you live in a western owned hotel. There goes your future uhuru hand picked president after declared the winner
This is what is known as…
This is what is known as cheap populism through hypocrisy. 1. The statement implies that the police were behind the arrest, concentrating on petty criminals, which is false. The man was probably arrested by security guards employed by the supermarket. 2. The statement implies that the Courts decide which Cases are taken before them, which is also false. 3. Stealing is still a crime, as long as you have taken something that does not belong to you. There are no exceptions because you are trying to feed your family. Otherwise everyone who cannot feed their families she be allowed to steal. 4. If Raila is really sypathetic about this man’s case, and not playing politics, there is something that he should have done by now. He should paid the shs100,000 fine for his freedom, and given him the shs3,165 for the foodstuffs.
Such unfortunate statement…
Such unfortunate statement from a high profile politician,or should I say former PM might embolden petty thieves to step up their crimes. How dare RAO suggests that a criminal should be released without punishment?We cannot allow this kind of precedent to be set in our country inspite of other criminals walking scott-free. As weak and “sputtering”as our judicial system is, we do not need to strengthen it,not to further weaken it.
Raila pretty much fell short of saying if elected petty thieves shall be set free when I am president…
Huyu jamaa Rao si ni gum…
Huyu jamaa Rao si ni gum joh. Don’t think have ever seen him contribute nothing to anyone. Anyway haithuru Sonko asha sort hivyo story.
I mean a crime is a crime…
I mean a crime is a crime but the irony is jarring . Plundering millions is fashionable but petty crimes well,…..fill the gap
How can Raila illegally…
How can Raila illegally order the release of thug Chivondo after druglord Sonko had legally secured it by paying the shs 100000 fine alternative imposed by the court?Raila must be reminded that NAIVAS was not established using Tax-payers money like SPECTRE Co.Investors can now read the signs of their downfall if he wins the presidency.
The punishment here does Not…
The punishment here does Not equal the offense, at the least mr. Chivondo needs to sentenced to 100hrs of Community service plus some probation.
By the way this Dude was “intercepted while attempting to exit the Naivas Supermarket”,
this needs clarification cos if he was not outside of the Supermarket door,he can not be charged with shoplifting. He needs to be outside the exit with the goods in his pocession to constitute shoplifting
@ Dick moses,the problem is…
@ Dick moses,the problem is he admitted to “stealing”,and in mitigation gave poverty and need to feed his family including ababy…are reasons… And this underscores why you should never say anything that can be used against you in court of law without the presence of a lawyer… We read alot about criminals caught red handed released on technicality,Mmmmm at least in countries with strong,and unbending judicial system…My two cents.
Dick Moses Well put
Dick Moses Well put
If Raila is not running for…
If Raila is not running for the presidency, the arrest of this poor and hungry Kenyan would be of no interest to him. He would probably hear about it on tv while eating choma and drinking champagne while belching like it is the end of time.
Desperate moments calls for…
Desperate moments calls for desperate measures.
In a bid to consolidate his voter base, Raila is now ordering the judiciary to not only let go of a shoplifter but unconditionally. This is a worrisome trend given that he can give such illegal orders now and what can he do in the unlikely scenario he becomes president? This is an individual who is willing to compromise the constitution for his own selfish interests.
In my view he should have help the suspect in appealing the case and ask for a possible one month sentence or lesser fine. Or pay his full fine just like Sonko did.
Njangiri mwenyewe ameongea…
Njangiri mwenyewe ameongea.Hii njangiri ndio ilinjiapisha as peoples president which is criminal or treason.Bure kabisa hii mzee no wonder Kenyans will never give him enough votes to sleep in the state hse.Thou the guy is not to b jailed for a year but as somebody suggested He should b given community Job yakufleka,to clean police cars or to dust public offices for 1 month then they let him go.