A middle-aged man has been arraigned before an Eldoret court after allegedly stealing two Bibles and a Swahili dictionary from a supermarket in Uasin Gishu County.
The accused, Victor Nyamwari Ondari, appeared before Eldoret Chief Resident Magistrate Kimani Mukabi on Tuesday to face theft charges.
According to court proceedings, Ondari allegedly entered a supermarket in the Road Block area on June 7, 2026, and stole two Revised Standard Version Bibles and an Aina ya Karne Zote Swahili dictionary, with the items valued at KSh 3,297.
Prosecutors told the court that the suspect left the premises without being detected. However, supermarket security personnel later reviewed CCTV footage and allegedly identified him as the person responsible for the theft.
When Ondari reportedly returned to the store the following day, security guards apprehended him. Police said an angry crowd descended on the suspect before officers intervened and rescued him from the mob.
Investigators further told the court that Ondari later led police to the location where the items had allegedly been sold, enabling officers to recover the stolen property.
During his court appearance, the suspect pleaded guilty to the charges and asked the court for leniency, promising not to repeat the offence.
Magistrate Mukabi ordered that Ondari be remanded at Eldoret Prison pending sentencing. The matter is scheduled for judgment on July 8, 2026.
The case highlights the growing role of CCTV surveillance in assisting businesses and law enforcement agencies to investigate and solve theft-related offences.
