By John Mutiso
A chief magistrate in Thika has offered a rare moment of judicial compassion by sparing a 23-year-old student from a criminal record after he was charged with stealing a bottle of whiskey worth Sh1,800 from a Naivas supermarket.
Instead of proceeding with the standard process of plea taking and potential conviction, Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo encouraged the young man to compensate the retailer and avoid the long term consequences of a criminal stain on his future.
The student had been arrested over the weekend and brought to court on Wednesday.
Before any formal plea could be taken, the magistrate engaged him in an unusually warm exchange that focused on accountability rather than punishment.
She questioned him about the value of the bottle and corrected his initial estimate of Sh1,000, pointing out that the listed amount stood at Sh1,800.
Magistrate Atambo advised him that a conviction over such a minor lapse would follow him into adulthood and urged him to settle the matter through direct repayment. The student told the court that he had no means to pay since he was jobless, although a cousin was on the way to assist with cash bail.
Noting the simple nature of the offence, the magistrate appealed to lawyers present in the courtroom to help raise the amount needed. Several advocates volunteered to contribute the full cost of the bottle, ensuring that the compensation could be made immediately.
In her closing remarks, Magistrate Atambo advised the student to treat the gesture as a lesson and to avoid further trouble. Her intervention offered a notable example of humane justice, reminding the public that empathy and practical resolution can, at times, provide a more constructive outcome than formal punishment.
