Azimio la Umoja flag bearer Raila Odinga has weighed in on the Mombasa court magistrate who ordered a mini Harambee to fundraise for a middle-aged woman charged alongside her husband with stealing a bale of wheat flour.
Raila in a social media post lauded the magistrate for his humanitarian deeds noting that his government will be keen on lowering the cost of living in Kenya.
“I commend Mombasa Magistrate, Vincent Adet who on humanitarian grounds set free a couple who admitted guilt to charges of stealing a bale of flour due to hunger and for fundraising for them.
“Our top priority as Azimio will be lowering the cost of living,” Raila noted.
The story by K24-Digital reported how Mombasa law courts were briefly halted as Mombasa principal magistrate Vincent Adet ordered a mini Harambee to fundraise for a middle-aged woman who was charged alongside her husband before setting them free.
Adet who kicked over the contribution by handing over Ksh 1000 to the court orderly, ordered members of the public, journalists, and court officials to contribute any amount towards Saumu Ali’s food kitty.
Ali alongside her husband Evans Odhiambo had been charged with stealing contrary to section 268 (1) as read with section 275 of the penal code.
The particulars were that on April 13 at Shimanzi area in Mvita sub-county within Mombasa county stole one bale of wheat flour valued at Ksh 1,980 the property of Grain Industries Ltd.
The judge further forgave the accused person of the charges and set her free.
Adet noted that in reaching his decision, he had considered the probation report presented before his court by the probation officer.
”On humanitarian grounds, especially for the first accused person, I have considered the circumstances under which the offence was committed and I sympathize with her situation, with three kids under her care and no source of income and am of the view that let buy her a bale of wheat flour and some meat for today,” Adet said.
