This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
On July 23, 2019, a Mombasa magistrate, Patrick Odhiambo, surprised court attendees with an impromptu fundraiser to help a 19-year-old woman charged with theft.
The woman, Karyn Chelagat, had pleaded guilty to shoplifting and stolen two hair weaves worth Sh1,140 from a Mtwapa supermarket on Sunday, July 21.
Chelagat told the court that she envied her friends who sported good-looking weaves but couldn't afford the Sh1,140 collective tag, leading her to steal the products.
Magistrate Odhiambo asked lawyers present in court and other Kenyans to contribute at least Ksh100 each to help Chelagat raise Ksh1,140.
One of the lawyers, William Bosire, gave out Ksh2,000 to rescue the woman from serving a 2-year jail term for the offence.
Magistrate Odhiambo set Chelagat free and asked the investigating officer to return the stolen weaves to the Mtwapa supermarket, and Bosire's money be given to the accused 'to buy a weave and food to eat'.
