Brian Kiprono Kibet has been arraigned at the Milimani Law Court for breaking another man’s phone at Mabatini club in Landmawe within Nairobi County for an allegedly unpaid bill.
Kiprono has been charged with malicious damage of property contrary to section 339(1) of the Penal Code, an offence he first pleaded guilty to.
According to the charge sheet, Kiprono said that while at a club within Nairobi County, he wilfully and unlawfully damaged Kimeli Emmanuel’s phone worth Ksh35,000.
“On August 3, 2025, at around 1600 hours at Mabatini Club in Landmawe within Nairobi County, wilfully and unlawfully damaged the mobile phone make Infinix Hot 40(i), valued at Ksh35,000, the property of Kimeli Emmanuel,” part of the charge sheet read.
Appearing before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego on Monday, September 22, 2025, Kiprono first pleaded guilty to the offence before changing his stand and pleading not guilty.
What transpired
According to the prosecution, the information recorded at the Railways Police Station states that the incident happened when Kimeli was at a club watching a football match between Harambee Stars and Zambia while playing pool with friends.
The court was told that during the match, Kimeli’s friend by the name Ruto borrowed his phone to place a bet, after which he (Kimeli) took the phone back and connected it to charge.
The prosecution has told the court that the report then states that after a while, Kiprono approached Kimeli and demanded he pay Ksh650, claiming it was for an unpaid bill, which was not specified which bill.
In response, Kimeli contested the amount, which led to the accused person grabbing the phone from him.
However, after exchanging words, Kimeli then agreed to pay the said amount, but Kiprono went ahead and smashed the phone on the floor, leaving it completely damaged.
Later, Kiprono agreed to repair Kimeli’s phone but failed to do so, prompting the complainant to pursue court intervention.
Magistrate Alego has freed the accused on a bond of Ksh50,000 with a surety of a similar amount, or alternatively, he pays a cash bail of Ksh20,000 with two contact persons.
The matter will be mentioned on September 29, 2025, for pre-trials.
