Phone thief surrenders stolen device to Mosiria after late-night encounter
By Paulette Mboga, September 6, 2026Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria has revealed how a young man who stole a phone at Fig Tree, Ngara, later surrendered the device after realising it was still on loan.
Mosiria said the young man noticed him while he was talking to people who were installing a billboard at night. He explained that the young man approached him and asked for help in returning the phone to its owner.
“He found me talking to people installing a billboard at night, where I had slowed down, and he noticed me. He requested that I help him return the phone to the owner, believing that I have the capacity to help him change his life,” Mosiria said on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
According to Mosiria, the young man had earlier stolen the phone at Fig Tree, but later realised that the device was still on loan. Mosiria said this prompted him to seek his help in returning it to the owner.
The young man also requested to use Mosiria’s car to help return the phone. However, Mosiria said he did not trust him enough to allow him into his car because it was at night.
“I told him we should meet at Fig Tree instead. He surrendered the phone to me and ran back to Fig Tree,” Mosiria said.
The phone is returned
Mosiria said the phone was later handed back to its owner after the young man surrendered it. He explained that the encounter did not end with the return of the device, as he also decided to offer the young man support.
Mosiria said he promised to take the young man to rehab and support him as he works towards leaving stealing behind. He explained that the young man had approached him because he believed Mosiria could help him change his life.
“The owner was handed back his phone, and I promised to take the young man to rehab and support him as he leaves stealing behind,” Mosiria said.
Mosiria said the young man chose to surrender the phone after discovering that it was a Lipa Mdogo Mdogo device that was still on loan. He explained that the phone was then returned to the person who owned it.