Eleven in court for Endarasha School killings

By Moses Njagih

Eleven people, including nine Form One students, were arraigned before a Nyeri court over the death of two Endarasha Boys High School students.

The suspects appeared before Chief Magistrate Stella Muketi, who ordered they appear before a judge at the High Court on November 9, to plead to the murder of the two.

The chief magistrate gave the orders following an application by the State that it is granted more time to complete its investigation before charging them.

The nine boys who are suspected to have set on fire the school dormitory, while their colleagues were asleep, causing the death of two students, were joined in the dock by two civilians alleged to have sold to them petrol.

The suspects were brought to court under tight security. Many still in their school uniforms, the students desperately tried to cover their faces as they were called to the dock. Those who appeared in court were Oby Tylene Oyugi, Derick Wambugu, Davin Ndung’u, Andrew Kandia, Edward Karugu, Stephen Ndirangu Thuita, and Wilson Wahome Mwangi.

Others were Peter Njoroge, Arnold Mwaura and the two civilians, Ayub Kung’u Waweru and Fredrick Githinji Wangai.

Two counts of murder

The charge against them states that on the night of October 17, at Endarasha School in Nyeri Central District, they murdered Kennedy Karogo Njuguna. The second count states that they also murdered Joseph Mwangi Kamau.

Before the magistrate yesterday, State Counsel Kaigai Karundu applied to be allowed to hold the suspects for a further two weeks, to complete its investigation.

Karundu told court there were some crucial elements of investigations, including taking of DNA samples, which were yet to be done.