Police ordered to evict goons from War Memorial Hospital

 

Nakuru County askaris preventing some youth from forcefully entering  War Memorial Hospital w on February 1, 2024. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Nakuru County Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi has been ordered to evict goons who occupied Nakuru War Memorial Hospital last week.

Environment and Lands Court judge Anthony Ombwayo issued the orders after the hospital, through its lawyers Lawrence Karanja and Chomba Kamau, made an oral application to have the police ordered to remove the armed group.

On Thursday last week, an armed group of persons invaded the hospital immediately it was handed over to the staff and taken over contrary to the order by the court.

The County Government of Nakuru and the Attorney General have, however, distanced themselves from the armed group.

War Memorial said they have been seeking assistance from the police but none is forthcoming.

The judge said the National Police Service has to maintain law and order and protect life and property. The police, he noted, are required to apprehend offenders.

“The invasion by the armed group defeats the order of the court and is an affront to the rule of law. The plaintiff (War Memorial) has approached the police for assistance, but none is forthcoming.
Concerning that the police have to assist in such cases, I do hereby, order that the

County Commander visits the hospital within 24 hours of the service and remove the armed group,” directed the court.

The judge further directed that the police offer security and prevent the hospital from further invasion by armed groups.

Earlier in the morning, the hospital Directors and three land officials were charged afresh.

The directors, Simon Mwangi and Roger Joslyn, and lands officials, Kipkemboi Marindich, Peter Nzuki, and Stephen Kihenjo had appeared in court for mention of their case.

The prosecution, however, informed the court that the charge sheet had been amended and additional charges preferred.

The prosecution noted that the previous charge had errors.