Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has offset a fine that was imposed on Alvin Linus Chivondo, who was sentenced today at the Milimani Law Courts for shoplifting from a Naivas Supermarket.
Alvin was handed a 1-year sentence with an alternative of Ksh 100,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to stealing 5kgs of rice, 5 litres of cooking oil, 2kgs of sugar and other items valued at Ksh 3,165.
"Majority of Kenyans are languishing in poverty even to afford a daily meal for their families is a problem, it is because of this reason that I decided to pay the court fine for Mr Alvin Linus Chivondo who was sentenced to one-year imprisonment for stealing cooking oil," Sonko posted.
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Alvin's case has attracted public furore with ODM Leader Raila Odinga calling for his unconditional release.
In his reaction to the sentencing, Raila stated that it was unfair that the courts allowed certain unnamed politicians, who have active criminal charges to campaign freely, while petty offenders were handed punitive jail terms. The presidential hopeful challenged the courts to get their priorities right.
"Let Alvin Linus Chivondo be released unconditionally!. Criminals are now getting a reprieve to campaign freely, while petty offenders are being jailed. Let the courts get their priorities right, for once, you can't jail a man for trying to feed his family," Raila stated.
Alvin Linus Chivondo, who is casual labour, in mitigation told the court that he and his family slept hungry for three days before opting to steal the food items.
“I have a four-month-old baby and I couldn’t feed my family. Your honour you can see I only stole food items. I can’t feed my family since I lost my job,” Chivondo pleaded with the magistrate.
