Man jailed for insulting uncle

By WAINAINA NDUNG’U

Calling someone names such as ‘uncircumcised’ can land you in jail.

That is a lesson learnt by a Nyeri youth after he was jailed for four months for insulting his uncle calling by him ‘uncircumcised’.

James Gaita Wamuyu admitted to the charge of creating disturbance in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by insulting David Muthami Gaita.

He admitted that he committed the offence at their home in Riamukurwe village in Nyeri Central District on July 5 and July 7 this year.

Nyeri chief magistrate Wilbroda Juma was told that the youth who lived with his maternal grandmother first verbally attacked and banged on the door and wooden wall of David Muthami Gaita house at 3.00am on July 5 while in the company of others not before the court.

Chief Inspector Stansleous Mwangi told the court that the complainant was asleep when the incident happened.

“He woke up and heard the voice of the accused which he recognised. The accused was calling him an uncircumcised boy and he continued with the insults for a while then left,” said Inspector Mwangi.

Although the complainant complained to village elders, no action was taken on the nephew and on July 5 at 4.00pm the accused went to the house of the uncle and again called him an “uncircumcised boy.”

Gaita admitted committing the offence and said he was an orphan and lived with the grandmother taking care of her and minding his other siblings. But the magistrate said he deserved a deterrent sentence.

“What type of youth is the society nurturing? Such incidents should be discouraged,” said Ms Juma while ordering that the youth serve four months for each of the two instances of creating a disturbance in a manner likely to create a breach of peace.