Nairobi, Kenya – Monday, October 6, 2025 — A Nairobi man has been sentenced to two months in prison or pay a fine of KSh30,000 after attempting to evade a KSh32,760 bar and restaurant bill at a local joint in Upper Hill.
The court heard that Qurine Omondi Muteshi walked into the restaurant at Vibanda Village on the night of October 3, 2025, accompanied by friends. The group ordered food and drinks worth over KSh32,000 but later attempted to leave without paying.
According to the prosecution, Muteshi tried to sneak out of the restaurant, pretending to talk on the phone before being stopped near the road as he attempted to board a matatu.
“The accused was noticed pretending to talk on a phone as he walked out towards the road after being presented with the bill. He was almost boarding a matatu before he was apprehended and said he had no money to pay the bill,” the prosecution told the court.
Claimed He Was “Abandoned by Unknown Girls”
In his defence, Muteshi claimed that while he had money when entering the restaurant, he was unexpectedly joined by unknown women who ordered food and drinks before disappearing and leaving him with the entire bill.
“Some of us suffer because we are still new in Nairobi. This is my fourth year in the city, but I am not yet conversant with all its corners,” he told the court, pleading for leniency.
After reviewing his statement and the evidence presented, the magistrate sentenced him to two months imprisonment or an alternative fine of KSh30,000.
Lessons from the Incident
The case has since sparked online discussion, with many Kenyans advising revelers to “drink within their means” and be cautious when treating unfamiliar company at entertainment spots.
Authorities continue to warn against dining-and-dashing offences, which fall under fraud and obtaining services by false pretence under the Penal Code.
