An Eldama Ravine Court has fined a middle-aged man Ksh 5,000 or face a three-month jail term after he was found guilty of stealing his neighbour’s Irish potatoes.

Titus Limo Kipyegon was found guilty of the offence after he pleaded guilty to perpetrating the act on January 26, 2023, at Timboroa, Mumberes location Koibatek Sub County, Baringo County.

According to the charge sheet Titus was found by a neighbour, Willy Baraza while harvesting one sack of Irish potatoes valued at Ksh 3,500 belonging to Joseph Kariuki.

In his mitigation, the accused pleaded for leniency saying he was pushed by poverty and that his family went without a meal on the previous night since he was the sole breadwinner.

Eldama Ravine Senior Principal Magistrate Richard Koech warned him and anyone else intending to steal that poverty is not an excuse and that one should strive to earn a living by working genuinely.