A woman who pleaded guilty to a charge of constructing an illegal structure in Thika town and selling food without licence has been sentenced to a two years jail term.
Teresia Gakunyi appeared before Resident Magistrate Esther Mburu and was charged with endangering the lives of residents by building an illegal structure in Thika’s Majengo slum which is contrary to section 2 of the county governments act and also selling food without licence from the public health office.
The court heard that on January 27 when the public officers were in their field work, they came across the accused who had erected a shed in Majengo area of Thika Sub County and they ordered her to find a licence and renovate her shed.
Thika public health officer Joyce Waturu who testified, said that they had previously issued an order for the woman to acquire a licence and renovate the building which she never cared until when they found the place in wrecks during the next field work and they decided to take the matter to court.
In mitigation the woman claimed to have started the renovations but due to financial constraints she had stopped and was waiting to get another lot to continue with the repair works.
She however was not able to defend herself for failure to acquire a licence for her business.
The woman was unable to raise the fine of Sh 200,000 and thus will serve a two years jail term in Thika women’s prison.