A serial shoplifter Alvin Chivondo who was arrested and sentenced to one year in jail for shoplifting at Naivas supermarket in April this year has been arrested again.
Chivondo came into the limelight after ODM boss Raila Odinga faulted the courts for jailing him over petty crimes and instead called for his unconditional release.
According to reports, Chivondo, who was bailed out by former Nairobi county boss Mike Sonko, was arrested on Thursday, May 19, after he was caught shoplifting again at Naivas supermarket along Ronald Ngala Street in Nairobi.
It is reported that 21-year-old Chivondo was arrested after he was caught shoplifting packets of maize flour from the supermarket.
He was reportedly taken to Central Police Station awaiting arraignment in court on Monday after the officers have concluded their investigations.
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It is reported that this is the third time Chivondo is stealing from Naivas supermarkets. He reportedly committed the first crime on April 3rd when he was arrested and taken to Central Police Station. However, the Officer in Charge of the Station (OCS) pardoned and released him.
He went on to commit the same crime on April 10th when he was arrested and this time round, presented before a Nairobi court. He was charged with shoplifting foodstuff from Naivas Supermarket along Moi Avenue worth Ksh3,615.
While delivering the judgment, Milimani Chief Magistrate, Wendy Kagendo, stated that the court had found Alvin Chivondo guilty of the offense of shoplifting and hence the sentence. Alvin on his part, told the court he was forced to steal because he has a jobless father who depends on him.
Among the items he shoplifted included 5 kgs of rice, 5 litres of cooking oil, 2 kgs of sugar, and tea leaves. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison or a fine of Ksh100,000.
It was then that his conviction caught the attention of Raila Odinga, who blasted the judiciary for jailing petty offenders while taking them a long time to convict big individuals involved in corruption cases.
"Let Alvin Linus Chivondo be released unconditionally! Criminals are now getting a reprieve to campaign freely, while petty offenders are being jailed," Raila said.
However, Mike Sonko came to his rescue and cleared the Ksh100,000 fine. The former county boss also offered him a job opportunity and a month's supply of foodstuff.
