Written By Joyce Nzomo
A man accused of obtaining money by false pretence was on Friday arraigned before the Thika Law Courts, where he denied defrauding a woman of KSh 420,000 in a failed water vending machine transaction.
Simon Kariuki is alleged to have received the money from Josephine Njoki between March 1 and April 20, 2025, at K-Road in Juja Sub-county, claiming he would deliver a fully operational water vending machine to her shop. However, according to the charge sheet, the machine was never delivered, and all attempts by Njoki to recover the money proved futile.
Kariuki pleaded not guilty to the charges. His defence team urged the court to grant him lenient bail terms, citing his role as the sole provider for his young family.
His lawyer emphasized that Kariuki was not a flight risk and was willing to comply with any conditions set by the court.
Taking into account the nature of the offence and the amount involved, the magistrate set bail at KSh 250,000 cash or an alternative bond of KSh 500,000.
The court also directed that the matter proceed to pre-trial and mention in the coming weeks, as investigations and witness statements continue to be compiled.
