Five(5) suspects have been released on a bond of Sh100,000 each after they pleaded not guilty to the charges of theft of medical equipment and drugs at a public facility in Masinga Sub-County.

The Machakos County officials--Pauline Kiura, Mathenge Ndungi, Benson Kairo, Antony Muviku, and John Mutisya--were arraigned in Kithimani Law Courts in Yatta, Machakos County.

The suspects who appeared before Principal Magistrate Paul Wechuli, pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them and were released on Sh100,000 bond or alternative Sh50,000 cash bail with a surety of a similar amount.

The five jointly faced a charge of stealing by a servant, contrary to Section 281 of the penal code.

According to the prosecution, the officials on August 7, 2024, at Itunduimuni health facility, Masinga location in Masinga Sub-County within Machakos, took assorted medicine valued at Sh30,745 as per Kenya Medical Supply Authority (Kemsa) price, property of the County Government of Machakos that got to their possession by virtue of their employment.

They were arrested on August 10, 2024, and held in custody until August 21, 2024, when they were charged at Kithimani Law Courts.

Ndungi and Ms Kiura faced a separate charge at the same court. The particulars of the charge were that on April 27, 2024, at Kaewa health facility in Kaewa location, Masinga Sub-County within Machakos County, the duo, jointly with another not before court, being servants of the County Government of Machakos, took assorted medicine valued at Sh14,676 as per Kemsa price, property of the County Government of Machakos that got to their possession by virtue of their employment.

Ndungi separately faced a third charge of keeping in a building public stores contrary to Section 324 (2) (1) with Section 36 of the penal code.

The case will be mentioned on September 4, 2024.