By Frank Kamuntu
An abusive man in Kenya has been sentenced to three years in prison with an option of paying a KSh 100,000 fine for sending his wife abusive text messages for leaving him.
Fidel Ochieng’ is believed to have insulted Sharon Bwonya between July 10 and July 19 using unprintable language, which a court clerk said she could not read out in court.
Insolent Texts
In a report by Citizen TV, Ochieng also sent insulting messages to his wife’s parents, whom he accused of convincing their daughter to leave him.
The prosecutor termed the suspect’s actions as shameful, especially to the woman’s parents, who were dragged into the couple’s feud.
While defending himself before the Eldoret Court, the suspect said he was frustrated after his wife decided to leave him, and he only sent out the messages in a fit of rage.
While issuing her ruling, Edoret Resident Magistrate Nancy Barasa reprimanded the man for lack of self-control and for sending the insolent texts.
“Even if you were emotional, you used obscene words and disrespected your in-laws and the woman you claim to love. This court sentences you to 36 months in jail with an alternative to pay KSh 100,000,” she said.
The suspect now has 14 days to appeal the sentence.
In a separate incident, a Nyandarua businessman was sentenced to two years in prison for using transformer oil to fry potato chips in his hotel business.
Elijah Mwangi Muthoga, who operates a hotel at Ol Kalou trading centre, was arrested in December 2021 while possessing 11 litres of transformer oil used for cooking chips at his hotel.
A statement from Kenya Power company indicated that Muthoga also repackaged it for sale as popcorn cooking oil.