Drama ensued in a Nairobi court on Friday after a suspect pleaded with the magistrate to jail him and prescribe adequate food due to the tough economic times.
In a video seen by The Eye Media, the suspect attempted to convince the judge that he was fit to stand trial after he was arrested for attempted suicide.
Minutes later, the suspect pleaded with the judge to jail him, indicating that he could no longer manage to fend for himself due to the high cost of living, which had pushed him to the brink of poverty.
He also explained that he was left hopeless after failing to secure a job as promised by the United Democratic Alliance Party (UDA).
However, he did not clarify the nature of the job, salary and other terms and conditions.
“I was born in Makadara, but I stay in Mavoko. But let me be honest, your honour, jail me so that I can get adequate food and I can continue living since suicide is not something I want to do. Also, you might find someone struggling in life, and you do not know what he is going through,” he explained in court.
He told the judge that he would work diligently in prison, on the condition that the judge prescribes special food for him.
“So instead of going throw myself in a river, I plead with you to jail me so that I get food. And let it not just be any food, special food. I ascertain that I am of sound mind, so you don’t have to worry,” he stated to the shock of the court.
The suspect also explained that he parted ways with his wife and hence lacked a next of kin.
If found guilty, the suspect will be sentenced to either serve two years in prison or pay a fine instituted by the judge or face both, as per Section 226 of the Penal Code.
This unusual case has shed light on the widening job crisis and the lengths to which some individuals will go when dealing with the high cost of living.
According to the latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the number of jobless Kenyans increased to over 2.97 million in December 2022 from 2.89 million in September 2022.
The data also revealed that the youth who fall below the age of 29, mainly secondary school and college graduates, were the hardest hit, accounting for 1.54 million people.
