This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
On July 17, 2019, a woman named Patricia Wanjiku Warugongo was on her way from seeing a client who had paid her Ksh.370,000 in cash when she encountered Bernard Mbatia Maina, one of the three accused persons.
Mr. Maina pretended to ask for directions to a children's home and then allegedly administered a stupefying drug, benzodiazepine, to Ms. Warugongo before leading her away from the crowd to a building near Uhuru Park.
He was joined by the other accused persons, Harrison Nyamu Gunda and Edgar Mwandisha Mwangesha, who were also charged with stealing the victim's handbag valued at Ksh.2,500 containing her personal effects and documents.
Mr. Gunda was further charged with handling stolen property after allegedly dishonestly receiving or retaining a lady's handbag containing personal effects, documents, and Ksh.291,300 in cash, knowing or having reason to believe them to be stolen property.
The three suspects denied the charges before Milimani Magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot and were released on a Ksh.300,000 cash bail each.
The case was set for mentioning on August 7, 2019.
