Five workers of Machakos County Government have been charged with stealing assorted medicine from two separate public health facilities within Masinga Sub-County.

A clinical officer, Mathenge Ndungi, and a nurse, Pauline Kiura, were on Wednesday, August 21 arraigned in a Kithimani court for allegedly stealing assorted medicines valued at KSh14,676 from Kaewa Health Centre. The offense is alleged to have taken place on April 27th 2024.

In a separate count before the same court, Mathenge Ndungi, a clinical officer, Benson Chuma, a nurse, Benson Mutinda, a watchman, and a cleaner, John Wambua, were charged with stealing assorted medicines from Itunduimuni dispensary in Masinga valued at KSh30,745 the property of County Government of Machakos.

However, the suspects denied all the said charges before Principal Magistrate Paul Matanda and were released on KSh100,000 bond or a cash bail of KSh50,000 each.

The court ordered the suspects to appear before it on September 4, 2024 for a mention, and on October 1, 2024 for a hearing.

The suspects were arrested on August 10, 2024 after the medicines store was found having been broken into and drugs stolen.

The incident was reported via police OB number 08/07/08/2024.

Upon conducting investigations, police traced some of the stolen drugs in the custody of one of the suspects.