By Antony Gitonga
A Naivasha court was turned into a theatre of the absurd in a case where 16 students had been charged with arson.
The jammed court was treated to light moments as the students engaged the school management and police in sheng
At one point, Naivasha Senior Resident Magistrate Franklin Gitonga broke into laughter as he intervened when witnesses could not understand what was being said.
Terms like odijo (teacher), chapaa (money), umedinda (refuse) and pae (police) were used with abandon. In the case, students from Magumu Mixed Secondary School, Kinangop, were facing charges of possessing petrol with the intention of burning the school on July 8.
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At one point, the school’s principal Peter Kariuki had to seek clarification after one of the students accused him of kumuwahi war (thorough thrashing).
"Nikishow hii koti eti ulituwahi war bafo mapae wakam, naweza kuwa nikiongea uwongo? (If I tell the court that you beat us before the police arrived, would I be lying)," posed one of the students.
The officer in charge of Magumu Police Post Agnes Muniafu was not spared either, with the students alleging they were beaten up after being arrested.
The case was later adjourned to November 27.
