This archive report was first published on 8 October 2019.
On July 25, Kashmiraben Kumar, a Nairobi resident, reported that $3,000 had gone missing from her bedroom. The theft was allegedly committed by her househelp, Sarah Asibo, who had been employed by Kumar early in 2019.
According to Kumar, Asibo was not staying in the compound, but was required to come early and leave early. However, on the day of the theft, Asibo failed to report to work or pick up her employer's calls.
When questioned by Kumar, Asibo initially denied stealing the cash, but later confessed to taking the money and giving it to her boyfriend, Paul Ojonga, who exchanged the dollars for Kenyan shillings.
Police officers accompanied Asibo to Ojonga's house in Kawangware and recovered $200. Further investigation revealed that Asibo had used the stolen money to buy an LG TV set, a GoTV set-top box, and had also sent Sh35,000 to her mother to buy iron sheets, Sh115,000 to her father through M-Pesa, and Sh10,000 to her boyfriend.
Ojonga, who was also charged with theft, claimed that he was tortured by police and forced to sign a false statement. He alleged that he was beaten and instructed to tell the truth about the stolen money.
Magistrate Barbara Ojoo advised Ojonga to seek assistance from the prison management. The case will be mentioned on October 27, 2019.
