Man faces jail time for unpaid hotel bill

A Nairobi man, Qurine Omondi Muteshi, has been sentenced to two months in prison or a Ksh.30,000 ($232.56) fine for failing to settle a hotel bill of Ksh.22,760 ($176.43) incurred during a night of heavy partying.

According Citizen Digital, the ruling was made by Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina after Omondi was found guilty of obtaining credit by false pretense on October 3, 2025, at Vibanda Village in Upper Hill.

The prosecution reported that Omondi ordered food, alcoholic drinks, and water for himself and friends but left without paying.

He admitted in court that he lost control during the celebration, stating, “I became so high and was surrounded by many ladies, each asking for drinks. Eventually, people disappeared, and I was left alone with the bill.”

In his mitigation, Omondi expressed shock over suspicious loan transactions on his phone and pleaded for leniency, noting his struggles as a newcomer to Nairobi. “Some of us suffer because we are still new in Nairobi,” he said, explaining that he was still unfamiliar with the city.

After considering his circumstances, the magistrate imposed the sentence of two months in prison or a fine, emphasizing the need for accountability.