The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.

Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
Email: [email protected]

NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

William Kamket, two MCAs acquitted of incitement charges in Kapedo killings

Rift Valley

By Silah Koskei | Apr 15, 2016

Eldoret: Baringo speaker William Kamket and two Members of County Assembly have been acquitted of incitement and conspiracy charges in the November 2014 murder of 21 police officers in Kapedo.

The three, who Friday appeared before Eldoret Chief Magistrate Wanjiku Cherere in a court packed with their family members and supporters, were dressed in red shirts bearing Kanu party symbols.

They were cleared of the all the counts, with the judge insisting that the evidence brought forth by the prosecution was based on hearsay.

In 2014, Kamket, MCA Nelson Lotela (Silale) and Daniel Tuwit (Ripko) were charged that on diverse dates between the September 28 and October 4, 2014, at Ameyan area in Nginyang division, East Pokot they conspired to commit murder and uttered inciting words that implied it was desirable to kill non Pokots and government security officers.

While reading the ruling, the magistrate said there was no evidence that the accused persons might have hatched a plot to kill people whom they did not know or had never met.

Keep Reading

"The interpretation of the allegedly said incitement words were got from an individual who did not attend the meeting and was based on hearsay because it cannot be clearly proved if the three accused made such utterances," said the magistrate.

The magistrate also took issue with the investigators whom she said failed to conduct proper investigations and arrest those suspected to have killed the officers.

"The big question is who committed the heinous crimes, subject to evidence from the chiefs, nine guns were recovered and three belonged to the officers who were killed but the investigators tasked with case confirmed to the court that they did not arrest nor interrogate the suspects yet they were known by the elders, the casual response that they did not arrest was inconceivable, the prosecution therefore did not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and the three are hereby acquitted on every count," read part of the ruling.

There was jubilation outside the courts as the three danced and hugged family members and their supporters following the ruling, they later marched through the streets of Eldoret.

The jubilant speaker said the trial was political and full of charade but lauded the judiciary for demonstrating its independence in ruling over the case and acquitting them.

"Many forces in government were uncomfortable with my election as speaker, they tried to rope in anyone who stood by me, they put obstacles such as the criminal case, attempt to suspend me, impeachment and a public petition but we defeated them all. I thank my supporters and family and above all our party KANU for standing by me all through," he said.

The speaker's lawyer Stanley Kanga'hi maintained that the reins of justice have never failed for innocent victims noting that the case crumbled because there was no sufficient evidence against his clients.

"The judge in her ruling made it clear that no primary witness was able to confirm if the three accused made such utterances and said that no criminal jurisprudence was given room to speculate in its evidence, I am glad that my clients are now free," he said.