A Gatundu man has been sentenced to six months in jail or pay a fine of Sh30,000 by a Thika court after pleading guilty to trespass and theft charges.
The court on Thursday heard that on March 20, 2015, John Muiruri entered Paul Wakahiu's farm and cut down five grevillea trees valued at about Sh50,000 without the owner's permission.
The court also heard that the accused took advantage of the owner's long absence at the farm to cut down the trees and sell them as wood.
According to the charge sheet, Muiruri was a long time and trusted farmhand of Wakahiu, and it was therefore easy for him to access the farm without suspicion.
Pleading for leniency before Thika Resident Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo, Muiruri said that he had cut the trees to raise school fees for his children.
"Three of my children who are in high school had been sent home because of school fees. I had a lot of pressure because they were about to start the end of term exams," Muiruri told the court.
However, the magistrate noted that trespassing and theft are illegal in Kenya and ordered Muiruri to pay the fine or go to jail.