Three employees of Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) were on Monday arraigned for stealing petroleum products from the company’s Kisumu terminal.
Reuben Andolo Aseneka, Joseph Mbugua Mwai and Mutai Micah were charged with conspiracy to steal 13,852 litres of motor spirit premium – commonly known as petrol – belonging to oil marketers’ companies, which was in the custody of KPC.
The fuel is valued at Ksh.2.4 million.
Appearing before Kisumu Chief Magistrate Dickson Onyango, the three pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution opposed bond for the trio, arguing that the offence amounted to economic sabotage punishable by law.
In his ruling, the chief magistrate noted that the right to bond is a right for every individual, though not absolute. He released them on a bond of Ksh.500,000 and a surety of a similar amount each.
The case will be mentioned on October 3 for pre-trial.
