Nakuru Court jails two Chinese nationals for hawking

By Patrick Kibet

NAKURU, KENYA: Two Chinese nationals arrested last week for hawking phones at Industrial area in Nakuru town have been fined Sh200,000 or one year imprisonment in default  by a Nakuru court.

Wang Yijiang and Yan Jinen both pleaded guilty to the charge of operating business without work permits contrary to the Immigration Act before chief Magistrate Samuel Mungai.

The two young men failed to plead to the charges on Friday after the court noticed the two did not understand English forcing the court to direct the prosecution avail a Chinese interpreter.

According to the prosecution the two men were arrested on June 20 when two immigration officers Mrs Beatrice Gichuki and Willis Sigei were on patrol at Industrial area in Nakuru town.

The two were selling phones at the Industrial area when they were stopped by the officers and asked to produce work permits but could not produce the permits to the officers.

The two men were however carrying Chinese passports and were arrested and taken to the immigration offices where they recorded statement.

Jinen was arrested with eight phones and chargers while Wang was arrested with nine phones and eight chargers which were produced as exhibits in court.

The two men pleaded with the court to allow them regularise their businesses and obtain work permits to allow them to work.

“The accused persons are remorseful for the offence and are asking the court to be lenient. Their prayer to the court is to allow them regularise the business,” Wang’s lawyer told the court.

Mungai while sentencing the two men noted that they had pleaded guilty to the charges but the offence must be discouraged.

“The court has noted that you have admitted the offence; however the offence must be discouraged. You are hereby fined Sh200,000 or one year imprisonment,” Mungai ruled.

Cases of Chinese hawkers in Nakuru town have been on the rise though the traders are known to operate covertly to avoid the authorities.