A 49-year-old woman with hearing impairment had to seek the services of her son to interpret to the court after she was charged with being in possession of illicit brew.
Priscilla Nyokabi, a mother of three, was charged before Kiambu Principal Magistrate Diana Mochache that on June 29 in Riabai Village, Kiambu Sub County, she was found with 10 litres of busaa.
She had been arraigned in the morning session but when her turn to take a plea came, she communicated to the court clerk through sign language that she was unable to hear.
Her case had to be adjourned to the afternoon session for the court to facilitate her with a sign language interpreter.
However, in the afternoon, Priscilla was again brought before the magistrate. The prosecutor informed the court that he did not manage to find an interpreter. He said Priscilla’s son who was in court, was the only option for the court. Her son told the court that she had pleaded guilty to the offence.
When asked by the magistrate how she operated her alcohol selling business, Priscilla demonstrated to the curious magistrate how she communicated with her customers through signs and gestures.
In mitigation, Priscilla shyly presented her answer to the astonished magistrate through a sign language response that conveyed sentiments that she was remorseful of her acts and vowed not to repeat the offence again.
Her plea did not fall on deaf ears as she was discharged but with a stern warning from the magistrate against repeating any offence for the next six months. When her son informed her through sign language that she was free, Priscilla raised both her hands in cerebrations to the amazement of members of the public and court officials.