Teacher takes MCA to court over kidnapping and assault

Muthambi Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Morris Maugu Gitonga was on September 4 arraigned in court for the alleged abduction of a teacher on August 15, 2023, in Tharaka Nithi County.

The MCA together with co-accused Martin Murangiri alias “Stewart” and Phineas Muriuki alias “Waria” were charged for the offence of abducting in order to subject to grievous harm Adam Kenneth Nthiga in Muthambi Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi.

The three were also charged with malicious damage to property. According to the court, the tree jointly, willfully, and unlawfully damaged a mobile phone (Camon 12) worth Sh18,00 belonging to the teacher on  August 5, 2023.

According to eyewitnesses, Nthiga a teacher at Muthambi Primary School in Muthambi sub-county was picked up by two men, now identified as the first and second accused at an entertainment joint and driven to an undisclosed location using MCA Maugu’s vehicle.

The vehicle is alleged to have picked up the MCA on their way to the location where Nthiga was undressed, beaten up, and injured for posting and commenting on the poor state of roads in Muthambi Ward on a Facebook group identified as “Marima Sweet Home”

While appearing to Senior Principal Magistrate Duke Ocharo at Chuka Law Courts, his lawyer Counsel Kirimi Muturi made an application that the accused persons be admitted to bail on reasonable terms after it emerged that they voluntarily presented themselves to Chogoria Police Station where they were released on a Sh20,000 cash bail, each.

Kirimi told the court that the three were in the jurisdiction of the court and were not in any way a flight risk.

The accused pled not guilty to the two counts and the matter shall be mentioned on September 18. The same case has been set for hearing on October 3, 2023.

They were granted Sh100,000 bond each or an alternative of Sh30,000 cash bail.