This archive report was first published on 18 December 2019.
On December 12, 2019, a dramatic turn of events unfolded in Nairobi's Mathare area, where a 23-year-old man was arrested for allegedly robbing two women on Jamhuri Day.
Brian Odhiambo, 23, was charged with robbery with violence after allegedly stealing a cellphone worth Sh 1,000, a flash disk, and Sh500 from Catherine Mwikali Katiwa. He was also charged with handling stolen goods after being found with the items.
According to reports, Odhiambo's father, James Ogutu, reported him to the police after he arrived home in a drunken stupor with two mobile phones in a handbag ringing at the same time.
When asked by his father where he had gotten the items, Odhiambo allegedly nearly slapped him. Mr. Ogutu then went to the police to report the matter, leading to his son's arrest.
As the key witness in the case, Mr. Ogutu played a crucial role in bringing his son to justice. Detectives received calls from Katiwa's callers and informed them that she had been robbed of her phone. They also traced another woman who had been robbed by Odhiambo to recover her items.
The victims told police they were waylaid by armed men and robbed. Appearing before Makadara Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate Angelo Kithinji, Odhiambo denied all the charges.
He was released on a bond of Sh 500,000, with the hearing of the case set to start on April 23, 2020.
