Lillian Afandi in court
  • Afandi stunned the court when she asked to be set free because she is four months pregnant.
  • Police said that Afandi set the small office on fire moments after her employer Margaret left to get more ‘float’ for the business

A mobile money agent’s employee has been accused of theft by servant and setting a blaze her employer’s shop.

Lilian Afandi was accused that on December 10 at Njiru area of Nairobi, she stole Sh144,000 before setting the shop on fire, properties belonging to her employer Margaret Gatwiri.

Afandi stunned the court when she asked to be set free because she is four months pregnant.

Police said that Afandi set the small office on fire moments after her employer Margaret left to get more ‘float’ for the business. Just moments after leaving the shop, the complainant claims she heard screams, prompting her to rush back to the shop to check in on Afandi.

Afandi claimed that the fire started as a result of an electric malfunction, a claim Margaret did not buy.

Prosecution said that the accused was probed, and that there was no proof that the fire was a result of an electric fault. Her explanations did not add up according to the prosecution, especially her claims that the money was burnt in the flames.

The court heard that passers-by responded to the fire and broke the door that the accused is said to have locked.

Afandi denied the charges. She however asked to be set free because she is expecting a baby and thus she needed time for the baby to grow.

She was freed on a Sh20,000 cash bail. The case will be heard on March 26, 2018.