MCA, 8 others charged with incitement

From right Kabazi ward MCA Peter Mbae, Samuel Kariuki and Gitonga Ndirangu at Nakuru Law courts on February 11, 2019. Mbae and his co-accused persons were arraigned in court for incitement to violence and malicious damage of property. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Nine people have been charged with destruction of property at Patel Farm in Solai, Nakuru County.

The suspects, including Kabazi ward MCA Peter Mbae, faced four charges of malicious damage to property, incitement to violence and arson.

Mr Mbae was accused of inciting the public to set ablaze a coffee plantation and trees worth Sh7 milion, the property of Mansukh Patel.

The others charged were Samuel Kariuki, Gitonga Nelson, Benson Mungai, Daniel Kamau, Samuel Kibanya, David Muniu, Daniel Maina and Michael Kabiya.

They were also charged with damaging the windscreen of a vehicle belonging to the Solai assistant county commissioner and another belonging to Solai Administration Police officers.

Reasonable bond

Their lawyers, Harry Gakinya and Peter Okiro, asked the court to release them on reasonable bond terms. The prosecution opposed their release, citing the nature of the offence.

But Mr Gakinya and Mr Okiro said their clients were out on bond and had not interfered in any way with the matter.

Mbae, Mr Mungai, Mr Kamau, Mr Kibanya, Mr Muniu, Mr Maina and Mr Kabiya were released on Sh1 milion bond with a surety of the same amount. Mr Kariuki and Mr Gitonga were released on Sh200,000 bond. The case will be mentioned on February 14, 2019.