Pastor remanded over death of schoolgirl

By OSINDE OBARE

A pastor who allegedly stabbed to death a pregnant form four student in Kitale has been arraigned in court.

Charles Okera of Yuya Pentecostal Assembly of God (PAG) appeared before Kitale Chief Magistrate Mary Chepseba after medical reports by doctors at the local district hospital recommended the he was fit to stand trial.

Mrs Chepseba ordered that the suspect be remanded in prison following a plea by the State Counsel Brenda Bartoo.

"Your honour, I request that the suspect be remanded in prison until Monday to take a plea of the offence," pleaded Mrs Bartoo.

The case would be mentioned before the High Court on July 18.

The pastor who had a bandage on his head after he was injured by residents who wanted to lynch him was composed as he appeared before the court.

Relatives of the slain student whose postmortem results showed she was carrying triplets could not hold back their emotions as they followed court proceedings.

Male triplets were extracted from the student’s body during the postmortem that triggered emotions at Cherangani Nursing Home in Kitale.

The court was packed with curious wananchi who flocked there to follow the case.

Court orderlies had a hectic time controlling the crowd that wanted to gain entrance into the court to have a glimpse of the clergy as he stood in the dock.

Before the alleged murder, the pastor was facing charges of defiling the same student and has been out on bond.