Man in Egerton University terror hoax released on Sh0.7m bond

Robert Mungai alias Robert Mohammed Bluez charged with issuing a false terror alarm.

A man suspected of spreading an alarming terror message targeting Egerton University students has been released on Sh750,000 bond.

Robert Mungai alias Robert Mohammed Bluez was charged with issuing a false alarm contrary to terrorism prevention laws. He appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Felix Kombo.

Mr Mungai allegedly committed the offence on April 4. He was arrested on April 8.

The message which was shared through his Facebook account and posted on Egerton Campus Life, a Facebook page, stated that Al-Shabaab militants were planning to raid university and commit worse atrocities than those witnessed during the Garissa University College attack.

The alleged hoax suggested that the Al-Shabaab terror group had obtained a map of the university to assist them in the raid.

"We are not joking and if you think we are, wait for us. Garissa is nothing compared to what will happen in Egerton University, Allah is to be worshiped. We have spies and maps of the whole Egerton," the message read.

Police had placed Sh2 million bounty on his head.

His lawyer, David Mongeri, argued that the offence is bailable under the constitution.

The magistrate also directed the accused to appear every Monday at Director of Criminal Investigations Office in Nakuru until the case is concluded. Hearing was set to commence on June 15.

In the same court, the hearing of a criminal case in which police 'impostor' Joshua Waiganjo has been charged alongside two former top police officers with abuse of office has been pushed to June 23 and 24.

Mr Waiganjo is also facing three counts of impersonating a senior police officer. His co-accused in the abuse of office case are former Rift Valley police boss John M'Mbijiwe and former Anti-Stock Theft Police Commander Michael Ngugi.

Cover-up plot

When they appeared in court in January, Waiganjo told a Nakuru court powerful State officials were plotting to have him jailed to cover up their links to the abuse of office.

However, lawyers representing his co-accused distanced themselves from the allegations. Waiganjo told Senior Principal Magistrate Felix Kombo that over Sh20 million had been used in an attempt to secure his conviction.

But State Counsel Martin Rabera denied the allegations, saying Waiganjo was only trying to delay the case. He said no one could tamper with his file as it was in their Nakuru Director of Public Prosecution's office. Hearing continues tomorrow.