Nairobi Court Drama: Suspect Pleads for Jail and Food Amid Economic Struggles
On Friday, a suspect pleaded with the magistrate in a Nairobi court to incarcerate him and provide him with adequate sustenance due to the difficult economic climate.
After being arrested for attempting suicide, the suspect attempted to persuade the judge that he was competent to stand trial in a video seen by PoliticalPulseChat.
Minutes later, the suspect pleaded with the judge to incarcerate him, stating that the high cost of living had driven him to the brink of poverty and he could no longer support himself.
He also explained that he was despondent after the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) failed to provide him with a job as promised. He did not, however, elaborate on the job’s nature, salary, and other terms and conditions.
“I was born in Makadara, but I stay in Mavoko. But let me be honest, your honor, jail me so that I can get adequate food and I can continue living since suicide is not something I want to do. Also, you might find someone struggling in life, and you do not know what he is going through,” he explained in court.
ALSO READ: 11 UDA Members Lose Seats After High Court Ruling
He told the judge that he would work assiduously in prison if the judge prescribed him special food.
“So instead of going throw myself in a river, I plead you to jail me so that I get food. And let it not just be any food, special food. I ascertain that I am of sound mind, so you don’t have to worry,” he stated to the shock of the court.
The suspect also explained that he had divorced his wife, leaving him without a living relative.
According to Section 226 of the Penal Code, the suspect will be sentenced to two years in prison, a fine imposed by the judge, or both if proven guilty.
This unusual case has cast light on the worsening employment situation and the lengths to which some individuals will go to cope with the rising cost of living.
The number of unemployed Kenyans rose from 2.89 million in September 2022 to over 2.97 million in December 2022, according to the most recent data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
The data also revealed that those under the age of 29, primarily high school and college graduates, were the hardest affected, comprising 1.54 million individuals.
Nairobi Court Drama: Suspect Pleads for Jail and Food Amid Economic Struggles