Kakamega, Kenya: More than 10 men suspected to have robbed, killed and maimed residents of Shibuli and Makunga villages last week were arrested and arraigned in a Kakamega Court.
The 10 were arraigned before Kakamega Senior Principal Magistrate Pamela Achieng on Monday, where they were charged with four counts of robbery with violence.
Ms Achieng directed that Peter Mutimba, Amos Shisia, Kennedy Eshihanda, Musa Were, Stephen Musita, Charles Manyasia, Hannington Shisia, Dismus Alaka, Peter Khalima and Kennedy Akwaba remain in remand for 10 days to allow further investigations.
They were first accused of robbing James Olutete of his Samsung phone worth Sh6,000 and sports shoes worth Sh2,000 before killing him.
In the second and third counts, they were accused of violently robbing Maurice Okwamba of a Sh7,000 mobile phone, and Justus Anyonje of two Samsung phones valued at Sh15,000 and Sh19,000 cash money respectively.
The prosecution argued that the 10-day period during investigation was adequate to allow the autopsy report on the body of Olutete, who is lying at the Moi Eldoret Teaching and Referral Hospital be tabled.
DRINKING PROBLEM
"It will also enable police gather statements and more evidence from key witnesses some of whom are still nursing serious injuries," said the prosecution.
The accused will appear in court on 26th this month for mentioning.
Meanwhile, Kakamega Senior Principal Magistrates Pamela Achieng expressed alarm at the high number of drunk and disorderly pleas the court handled on Monday.
Two pleas were of secondary school students arrested last Sunday for being drunk and disorderly.
The two, a form three student and a 17-year-old schoolboy caught the attention of the Senior Principal magistrate, who wondered why they were taking alcohol at such a tender age.
"Why are you, a small girl engaged in alcohol drinking? What will become of you at 30 or 40?" she asked the girl.
The court ordered that the minors be taken to preliminary remand and a probation report on them be tabled before the court before judgement.
There were over 10 counts of drunk and disorderly pleas, where most of the accused accepted charges and were fined Sh500, or be jailed for four days.
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LIGHT MOMENT
"Almost half of the pleas today are on drunk and disorderly counts. What picture are adults painting to your children by drinking?" posed the magistrate.
There was light moment in the same court when an accused claimed he did not understand the charges read to him in Swahili.
"I don't understand Swahili," he told the magistrate in Swahili.
"How then do you answer so fluently in Swahili?" she asked the accused who proceeded to plead with the court to set him free, promising never to repeat the offence in eloquent Swahili.
Another accused, Joseph Andanje from Navakholo denied being in possession of chang'aa, and was released on a bond of Sh2,000.
The same court released Cosmus Shilabo on a bond of Sh30,000 with an option of Sh15,000 cash bail for being in possession of stolen property (a Techno E3 Phone and assorted Sim cards) at Khayega market. His case will be heard on March 23 this year.
Two assault cases suspects were also released on bond of Sh20,000 each.
Francis Wesonga who was accused of assaulting Jeff Juma on January 30 this year in Lusumu, while Augustine Obicha was accused of beating up Caroline Maumo on February 8.
They denied the charges and were released on Sh20,000 bond each with an option of a Sh10,000 cash bail.
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