Two college students charged for leading protests

Kabarnet, Wednesday June 7, 23

KNA by Gloria Cheboi/Joshua Kibet

Two male students of Baringo Technical College in Baringo County have been arraigned before a Kabarnet court accused of spearheading a protest leading to its closure.

Ezra Kipruto and Jonathan Sasine Lengutan were charged jointly with others not before court, for willfully and unlawfully leading a protest that disrupted peace and causing damage to a police land cruiser.

The court was told that the affected vehicle Toyota land cruiser GKB 950W had its windscreen broken during the fateful day.

The duo who appeared Senior Resident Magistrate Purity Kosgei, were charged with four counts, but the magistrate dropped the fourth charge, which they are accused for taking part in an unlawful assembly contrary to the Penal Code.

The three counts upheld by the Magistrate were charges one and two of engaging in malicious damage to property contrary to Section 339 (1) as read with section 339 (2) of the Penal Code and for creating disturbance in a manner to likely cause breach of peace contrary to section 95(1) of the Penal Code.

Prosecutor Casmir Obiero who had proposed for withdrawal of the fourth count stated that it was similar to the third count.

The students, in their response however pleaded not guilty of the charges leveled against them.

The investigation officer in his submission requested the court to deny the suspects bond arguing that they are likely to reignite the strike and may clash with the community if given freedom.

In response to what the prosecutor said, the accused stated that they had no bad blood with the community whom they claimed were in support of their grievances. 

The Magistrate said that considering the nature of the case before court she does not see a custodial reason to deny them bond.

She went ahead to order the accused to be released on a Sh 30, 000 bond each with one surety of similar amount or an alternative cash bail of Sh 7, 000 each, pending a mention of the case on June 20 this year.

Courtesy ; K. N. A