Villagers deny vandalising railway

By RENSON MNYAMWEZI

Seventeen people were arraigned in court charged with stealing Kenya Railways Corporation property worth more than Sh11million in Taita-Taveta County.

The suspects who appeared before the Voi Senior Principal Magistrate Edward Muriithi denied the charged and were remanded in custody for failing to raise a bond of Sh50,000 each and a surety of a similar amount or Sh20,000 cash bail.

They all denied that on April 16 at unknown time along the Mwatate-Taveta Railway line section with others not before the court they stole 624 slippers, 64 rails, 4,624 padlock chips and 68 fisher plates all valued at Sh11, 159,200, the property of Kenya Railway Corporation. Those charged were: Bakari Omari Chete, Idi Makaba Salim, Emanuel Mwakio, Joseph Katema, Jones Mwadime, JacKson Bethwel, Mohammed Mtongolo, Thomas Mgahnga Shali, Washingtone Mngama and Gabriel Mrandi Others included Charles Odhiambo, Pascal Ringoma, Maghema Khamis, Mwakera Ibrahim Mwamunga Mshigwa matano and Michael Juma Mwandeme.

The accused also faced two more alternative charges of handling stolen property and retention of 64 rails valued at Sh1.6 million while knowing or having reason to believe they were stolen or unlawfully obtained and unlawfully and wilfully destroying or damaging the same railway line worth the same amount. The case will be heard on June 20.