A tout who smashed the side mirror of a public service vehicle worth Sh400 after the driver and conductor refused to pay him Sh100 for picking up passengers at a PSV stop in Dandora, Nairobi, will serve three weeks in jail if he fails to pay a fine of Sh400.
Andrew Njoroge was sentenced by Senior Principal Magistrate Hellen Okwany of Makadara Law Courts after pleading guilty to a charge of malicious damage.
Mr Njoroge, who works as a tout assisting matatus to pick up passengers at a bus stop in Dandora, admitted to damaging the side mirror of Joseph Theuri Mwangi on 16 September.
The court heard that at around 5am, Mr Mwangi had stopped at the stage where Njoroge usually works to pick up passengers when the convict demanded Sh100 for the pick up.
Mr Mwangi had agreed with his colleague Peter Ondari, the conductor, that they wouldn’t give Njoroge any money.
Mr Mwangi went to the town centre and later returned to Dandora Police Station where he reported the matter and Mr Njoroge was located and arrested.
In mitigation, Mr Njoroge told the court that he had offered to pay for the damage he had caused, but Mr Mwangi refused to pay, insisting that he should rot in prison.
He told Ms Okwany that his wife had sent Sh1000 to the complainant which he returned. The convict pleaded for leniency, saying he was a family man who depended on him. He has 14 days to appeal.
