Ruai man pleads guilty to stealing mum's chihuahua, says he released it after it bit him

A 40-year-old man is awaiting sentencing after admitting to stealing his mother?s Chihuahua, valued at Sh10,000.

Josphat Burugu Wambugu pleaded guilty to the charge, confessing that he took the dog to sell it but released it after it bit his fingers.

Wambugu, the eldest son of Jennifer Muthoni (the complainant), stole the dog on May 24 at her home in Ruai, Njiru Sub-county.

The accused has reportedly been a source of distress to his mother, despite her efforts to support him.

Having dropped out of university and returned from Qatar a year ago, he has stolen from his mother even after she bought land and built him a house in Malaa, where he lives with his family.

The court heard that Wambugu mistakenly called his mother while she was at work, during which Muthoni overheard him telling a rider that he planned to kill her dogs without consequences.

Alarmed by the barking dogs, Muthoni ended the call and asked the church reverend to check her home. The reverend, along with others, found two dogs barking.

A neighbour revealed that Wambugu had jumped over the perimeter wall and taken the Chihuahua. Muthoni left work to report the theft to authorities, who arrested Wambugu while he attempted to steal another dog.

When arraigned before Makadara Chief Magistrate Kennedy Bidali, Wambugu pleaded guilty and explained that he released the Chihuahua after it bit him.

The court ordered a probation report to be submitted before sentencing, given that the complainant is his mother.

The case is set to be mentioned again on June 4. Wambugu was granted a cash bail of Sh30,000.