I stole passengers' bus fare after my wife deserted me

A city man, who stole money paid by passengers last year as bus fare, admitted to committing the offence.

He was arraigned at Makadara law courts.

A remorseful Joshua Okenye Nyambati told the court that he stole the money to take care of his children after his wife left him.

“I ask the court for forgiveness. I stole the cash paid by passengers because my wife left me with my children who fully depend on me,” he said.

Okenye, who was employed in the matatu business by Daniel Geseke Bosire, was charged with stealing Sh22,000, money that belonged to his employer on October 12, last year at Afya Centre along Tom Mboya Street in Nairobi.

The court heard that Okenye went to the workplace that day and started collecting the bus fare for Transline Shuttle but disappeared with the cash at about 6:30 am.

The court heard that he lied to his boss, Bosire that the majority of the passengers travelling to Nyamira had each paid Sh1,500 through M-Pesa.

Bosire only received Sh2,000 in cash but the rest was said to have been pocketed by Okenye, who then went under.

The matter was reported to Kamukunji police station.

A month later, Okenye was spotted within Muthurwa Market and police officers were notified.

He was arrested and taken to the station where he was booked in before being arraigned.

Copies of receipts were produced in court as exhibits.

The court directed that a probation report be prepared and tabled in court before sentencing on February 7.