Chief charged with stealing televangelist's dogs

Paul Gichiri, Kihuri Sub Location assistant chief in Othaya, Nyeri before a Senior Resident Magistrate on May 9, 2019. [Kibata Kihu/Standard]

A chief has been charged in court with stealing two dogs belonging to a Nairobi televangelist.

Paul Gachiri of Kiendemi sub-location, Kihuri location in Othaya, however denied stealing the two dogs valued at Sh300, 000. The dogs belong to Thomas Wahome of Helicopter Ministries.

Gachiri appeared before Othaya Senior Resident Magistrate Monicah Munyendo, who released him on Sh100, 000 cash bail or a Sh200, 000 bond with a surety of the same amount.

The magistrate also instructed the prosecution, led by Winnie Moraa, to provide the accused person with all documentary statements and evidence she intended to rely on in the case.

She further directed that the matter be mentioned on June 4.

The case is said to have ended in court after the chief allegedly failed to prove that the dogs were his.

Wahome is said to have imported the exotic breed of dogs (Terrier breed) from South Africa through Tanzania.

Gachiri was charged that on unknown date during the month of December 2016, at Kihuri village in Nyeri South, he stole the two dogs, property of the preacher.

He was also charged that on December 6, last year, at Kihuri village, otherwise in the course of stealing dishonestly received and retained one of the dogs, knowing or having reason to believe it was stolen.

Wahome, in his statement to the police, stated that he imported the two animals while they were still puppies, from South Africa on November 17, 2014 at a cost of Sh150, 000 each.

“I took them to my compound in Lang'ata, Nairobi, before transporting them to my home in Kiendemi, Othaya, where I placed them in a kennel under the care of my farm manager,” the televangelist added.

Later, the preacher explained, he received a report on December 2016 from his farm manager Macharia Ndichu that the dogs had been stolen.