Shoplifter Bailed Out By Sonko in April Arraigned in Court for Similar Offense

A perennial shoplifter who was bailed out by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko in April after being caught stealing foodstuff from a Naivas supermarket outlet in Nairobi has been charged with a similar offense.

Alvin Linus Chivondo appeared before a Nairobi court on Monday where he was also charged with a second count of being in possession of Cannabis Sativa with a street value of Sh2,000. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In April, a Nairobi court sentenced Chivondo to a year in prison or pay a fine of Sh100,000 after he pleaded guilty to stealing 5 litres of cooking oil, 5kgs of rice, ½kg of honey, ½kg of tea leaves, and 2kg of sugar worth Sh3,165 from Naivas Supermarket located at Development House, Moi Avenue in Nairobi.

While pleading for forgiveness, Chivondo told the court that he lost his source of income, adding that his family, including a four-month-old child, slept hungry for three days.
 
“I have a four-month-old baby and I couldn’t feed my family. Your honor, you can see I only stole food items. I can’t feed my family since I lost my job,” he said.

He was released from Industrial Area Prison two days later after Sonko paid the fine following uproar from Kenyans online, who termed the sentence as harsh. Sonko went further to give him one month’s worth of shopping as well as a job offer at his Upper Hill offices.

“We’ve offered Alvin Chivondo a job at our Upper Hill offices and our team in the office has shown him what his job entails. Am happy the young man is now free. It's my hope he will be a responsible man,” Sonko said then.

In May, the 21-year-old was arrested again at Naivas Supermarket on Ronald Ngala Street attempting to steal maize flour and was detained at Nairobi Central police station.