Top Murang’a County Gov’t Official Arraigned Over Sh8 Million Theft Claims

MURANGA Kenya June 26 -The Murang’a County Government Executive Member for Housing and Public Works has been arraigned in a Kandara court for allegedly breaking into a house and stealing money and property valued at Sh8 million.

Pius Njuguna Macharia, jointly with others who did not appear in court are accused of having broken into the house of Dr Issac Chesoni Chetambe in Kenol town before stealing medical equipment including an Echo Machine, Full Haemogram machine, Portable Ultrasound Machine, Ventilator Machine, among others.

Njuguna was arrested by the officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) approves the charges.

He appeared before Murang’a Chief Magistrate R. N. Kimeu at the Kandara law court where he denied the charges and was released on a cash bail of Sh800,000 or an alternative bond of Sh2 million.

Kimeu directed that the suspect be held at Thika prison remand should he fail to raise the bail until July 15, 2024 when the case will be mentioned.

A total of 13 witnesses have been enlisted in the case and have already recorded their statement.

Dr Chetambe, who runs a private hospital facility in Kenol township, is said to have rented a house belonging to Njuguna for use as a store for medical equipment on November 7, 2020.

However, on June 3, 2023, Njuguna is reported to have broken into the premises and carted away Dr Chetamebe’s property before forcibly evicting him from the house. Njuguna who was Dr Chetambe’s landlord, claimed the latter had defaulted on rent payment and had refused to move out of the house to in accordance to his orders.

Among the items stolen included a 55-inch Sonny TV worth Sh97, 000; Sonny home theatre (Sh 35, 000); immuno assay analyzer (Sh350,000), Ventilator machine (Sh1.2m); echo machine (Sh1.8m); full haemogram (Sh470, 000); endoscopy portable field machine (Sh2.57m), portable ultra sound machine (Sh700, 000); egg machine (Sh280, 000); patient monitor (Sh95,000); cash (Sh130, 000) and HP laptop (Sh38, 000), among other items.

“On the 3rd day of June, 2023, at Kenol township in Kandara sub county of Murang’a county,  within Central region, jointly with another not before court, broke and entered the rental house of Isaac Chesoni Chetambe, and therein stole (as per the attached list), all valued at Sh8,010, 900, the properties of the said Isaac Chesoni Chetambe,”  the charge read.

In his statement to the police, Dr Chetambe claimed that Njuguna evicted him from the premises after realising that his business was doing better in terms of clientele traffic. He stated that he was up to date with all his rent payments and had never had any rent arrears.

The complainant said the accused has been dodging the police officers and using his position in the county to avoid arrest for a long time after he committed the offence. Chetambe also told the court that the accused has been sending him threatening messages.

Chetambe urged the court to fast track the hearing and determination of the case so that he can recover his stolen items.

He also called for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to further probe the CEC’s conduct.