12/11/2021
An assistant chief in Nyeri accused of stealing dogs belonging to a bishop has a case to answer, Othaya court now rules.
Paul Gachiri Wageni, the assistant chief for Kiandemi sublocation, was accused of stealing dogs, Terrier breed, valued at Sh. 300,000 on unknown dates in December 2016.
While giving her rulling Othaya court principal Magistrate Monicah N Munyendo said considering the evidence given by the prosecution, the administrator has a case to answer.
The dogs are the property of Nairobi-based televangelist Thomas Wahome of Helicopter Church.
The administrator who was on 03 May 2019 released on a cash bail of Sh100,000 or a bond of Sh200, 000 after denying the charges before Othaya senior resident magistrate Monica Munyendo.
The administrator also faced a second count of handling stolen property on December 6, 2018 at Kihuri village.
The court was told that the accused, otherwise than in the course of stealing, he dishonestly received and retained one dog which charge he also denied.
Documents in possession of the prosecution stated that the complainant bought the dogs, a male and female, in December 2014 in Arusha, Tanzania.
The canines were transported to Kenya by air when they were only three months old.
He ferried them to his rural home in Othaya later.
The 41-year-old Wahome wrote in his statement to the police that the dogs were under the care of his farm manager Stephen Macharia Ndichu when they were stolen.
But the 55-year-old assistant chief told investigating officer W***y Businei that he bought the dogs from Wahome’s mother, Antonia Njambi, in March 2013.
The statement indicates that he bought the two dogs at Sh200 each.
“After about two weeks since I bought them, the male puppy passed away and I remained with the female,” the statement read.
The case will be heard in 29th and 30th of this month.
