A man identified as Jotham Askari, alias Kazola, appeared before Milimani Law Courts Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo today and pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery with violence but denied two other counts, including a second count of robbery with violence and malicious damage to property.
The charges stem from two separate incidents in the Kabarnet area of Kibra sub-county, Nairobi, in March 2025.
In Count one, to which he pleaded guilty, the prosecution alleges that on March 11, 2025, Askari, while armed with a panga, rungu, and steel bar, broke into a liquor shop. He is accused of violently robbing the owner, Shadrack Ivagale Asena, of assorted alcoholic drinks and an Itel P40 mobile phone, all valued at Ksh 149,645. The charge specifies that he used actual violence against Mr. Asena during the commission of the crime.
Askari, who was arrested on September 25, 2025, pleaded not guilty to the other two counts.
On March 15, 2025, also in Kabarnet, Askari is alleged to have been armed with a panga when he broke into a liquor shop and robbed Carolyne Wambaire of assorted soft drinks valued at Ksh 31,800, while simultaneously causing her actual violence.
He is also accused of willfully and unlawfully damaging the rear left window of a motor vehicle (registration number KBN837T, a red Volkswagen) belonging to Shadrack Ivagale Asena on March 11, 2025. The damage is valued at Ksh 7,000.
Magistrate Onsarigo issued an order: he directed that Jotham Askari be taken to Mathare Mental Hospital for treatment.
The case is scheduled for mention on October 2, 2025, presumably to allow for a mental assessment before further proceedings on sentencing for Count I and the hearing of Counts II and III.
