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Among them is Paul Kirui, who was charged with removing forest produce from a public forest without authority contrary to the law.
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Kirui was on January 7, 2024, found unlawfully removing four cider posts, being the property of Kenya Forest Service, from Longoman Public Forest in Njoro subcounty, Nakuru.
Image: FILE
The High Court at Nakuru has saved six convicts from time in jail after commuting their custodial sentences to community service.
In a series of judgments delivered on Friday, Justice Heston Nyaga revised the sentences to decongest the Nakuru GK Prison.
Among them is Paul Kirui, who was charged with removing forest produce from a public forest without authority contrary to the law.
Kirui was on January 7, 2024, found unlawfully removing four cider posts, being the property of Kenya Forest Service, from Longoman Public Forest in Njoro subcounty, Nakuru.
The action caused destruction worth Sh50,000.
Upon arraignment, he pleaded not guilty and was sentenced to pay a fine of Sh100,000 in default to serve six months imprisonment.
Unable to pay, he served a substantial part of the sentence before the Nakuru County Probation Office found him suitable for community service.
The officer recommended that Kirui serve the same at the Longoman Forest Station.
When the report was presented before the court, Justice Nyaga ruled in favour.
"I find this case fit for revision and order that the sentence of the trial court be revised. The Applicant is now to serve the remainder thereof under Community Service at Longoman Forest Station for two months," he ruled.
Another convict John Ekai Ewoi was sentenced to serve two years jail term for the offence of stealing.
On July 27, 2023, at Koleni Estate in Nakuru West, he stole a mobile phone make Itel P681w worth Sh10,700.
He admitted having committed the offence and was jailed.
After serving for a while, the Probation Office recommended he be admitted for community service at Sobea Chief's Camp.
The court ruled that he would serve the same at the Camp for six months.
Isaac Kipngetich Chepkwony will serve the remainder of his sentence under community service at Solai County Commissioner's Office for two months.
Before the sentence revision, he had been ordered to serve one year in jail for preparation to commit a felony contrary to the law.
"On December 4, 2023, at 2350 hours at Marigu Village Solai, in Rongai subcounty within Nakuru, not being at their places of abode, had with them an article for use in the course of or in connection with stealing dried maize grains," the particulars of the case read.
Justice Nyaga also admitted Festus Kipngetich to serve two months under community service at Mauche police station.
Kipngetich was meant to serve a custodial sentence of a year following conviction on own-plea in threatening to kill.
The court heard that on September 8, 2023, at around 3:30 pm at Mauche Village of Njoro subcounty, Nakuru, without lawful excuse while armed with bows and arrows fired one shot with a warning "bahati yako mzuri police wamekuja leo ungekuwa maiti" threatening to kill Mathew Langat.
Convict Isaiah Komen is also among the lucky six.
Komen was jailed at Nakuru GK Prisons after pleading guilty to assaulting another man and occasioning him actual bodily harm.
The offence was committed on September 5, 2023.
He was sentenced to a year in jail and after serving a substantial part of the sentence, he was recommended for non-custodial option.
The court saw it fit and admitted him to serve the remainder at Sarambei Chief's Camp for two months.
Instead of serving a year in jail, Simon Kamau Mwangi is also among those under the community service program.
Mwangi got into jail after stealing from another man on September 10, 2023, at around 7:30 pm in the Maili Sita area in Nakuru North.
He pleaded guilty to stealing Sh6,000, an ID card, Huduma number, Tuskeys reward card and Naivas reward card.
The court sentenced him to pay a fine of Sh20,000 in default serve a year imprisonment.
He served a substantial period of the term and the Nakuru County Probation Office through a Sentence Review Report found him suitable for Community Service.
It recommended that he performs the same at Kiamaina Chief's Camp.
"I find this case fit for Revision and order that the sentence of the trial court be revised. The Applicant is now to serve the remainder thereof under Community Service at Kiamaina Chief’s Camp for Six months," Justice Nyaga said in his ruling on March 15.
He also directed that the terms of the service be explained to the convicts.