A Nyamira court has found a middle-aged man guilty of breaking into an assistant chief's office on Christmas Eve and making away with a mace.
The accused, Evans Monga're told Nyamira resident magistrate Renee Kitagwa, that he broke into Philip Nyamoko's office and stole the administrator's ceremonial mace for failing to assist him.
"I visited the assisted chief several times requesting him to assist me in getting back my two children who are staying with their mother who I had separated from. I wanted them back so as I can take them to school but the chief refused to write me a letter,'' claimed Mong'are.
Mongare was accused of breaking and entry on December 24, 2015, whereby he stole a mace valued at sh1,000. He also faced an alternative charge of being drunk and disorderly contrary to section 33(1) of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act as read with section 33(2) of the same Act.
Prosecuting inspector Simon Muasya said that the accused was seen half naked going to the chief's office by a neighbouring resident.
"He had removed his shirt and placed it on his shoulders as he complained that the assistant chief had taken sides in a matrimonial problem he had with his wife," Mr.Muasya said.
He said Mongare was armed with a stone during the incident.
"He even dared the witness, Sylvester Mongare, to report the matter to Nyamoko," Muasya said.
Muasya said the witness informed the chief who later alerted the police. The suspect was arrested outside Barclays Bank, where he was found lying with the mace.
In mitigation, the accused asked for forgiveness saying he acted under the influence of alcohol.
The magistrate, however, found him guilty and fined him sh20,000 or two months imprisonment in default, for the first offence, and sh500, for the alternative charge or 14 days imprisonment in default.