By: Bramuel Wanzala
Josphat Kamau Chege, 28, has been sentenced to one year for the theft of metal grills belonging to the Kenya Railways Corporation. However, the Milimani Chief Magistrate, Dolphina Alego, ruled that Chege will only serve the time if he commits another offense within the next 12 months a legal arrangement known as a suspended sentence.
Chege was charged under the Penal Code for stealing three locomotive radiator grills valued at Ksh40,566. The incident occurred on January 4, 2026, at the Railways workshop in Nairobi.
According to the prosecution, Railway security guards heard a commotion during a routine patrol. They observed Chege exiting the workshop carrying the heavy metals wrapped in bedsheets. After a short chase, the guards apprehended him and recovered the stolen items.
Appearing in court, Chege admitted to the theft but claimed he believed the metals were discarded scrap. He told the court, “I found these metals lying around and thought they weren’t being used. I didn’t know they were functional.“
During his sentencing on Thursday, January 8, Chege pleaded for leniency, citing his family’s desperate situation. He works as a loader in Marikiti Market. His wife works as a laundress in the Muthurwa area. He is the sole breadwinner for two children and noted that his family had not seen him since his arrest, having left them with only Ksh150.
While the prosecution initially requested a deferment to finalize a pre-sentencing report, Magistrate Alego proceeded with the ruling after confirming this was Chege’s first offense.
“The court has considered your mitigation and your personal circumstances,” Magistrate Alego stated. “You will serve a 12-month suspended sentence. Do not involve yourself in crime again.”
Chege was informed of his right to appeal the decision within 14 days.
