BY PHOEBE WANJOHI.
Sixteen boda boda operators have been arraigned in court over robbery with violence and assaulting a female motorist in an incident that was captured on camera last week.
The motorbike riders were arrested following uproar from Kenyans after the female driver, said to be a diplomat was captured wailing as unruly men mobbed her vehicle.
When the 16 were presented to court, the investigating officer applied to detain the suspects for 20 days to complete investigations.
The investigator Inspector Lyvonne Mwanzia, said she needs time to interview and record statements from witnesses.
She also she needs to request for call data from service providers so that they can trace the movements of the accused persons.
“I need to take the suspects’ mobile phones to cybercrime unit DCI headquarters for forensic analysis,” officer Mwanzia told court.
The court further heard that the investigating officer will also need time to retrieve CCTV footages from Barabara Tano along Wangari Mathai Road, where the heinous incident happened, for forensic analysis.
She pointed out that she is yet to arrest more suspects who were captured on camera.
A report filed with the police say the victim was involved in a minor road accident with a boda boda rider along Wangari Mathai rd on March 4, 2022.
“Suddenly, a group of bodaboda riders who at Barabara Tano stage moved to where her vehicle had stopped and attacked her accusing her of hitting one of their colleagues,” the officer testified.
The mob assaulted her sexually and stole her mobile phone.
Those presented in court include James Mutinda, Samuel Wafula, Charles Omondi, Japheth Bosire, Hassan Forah, Wanjuki Lincon, Joseph Ngugi, Lenson Fundi, Harrison Maina, Benjamin Ngure, Ignatius Shitekha, Martin Kamau, Shadrack Ambia, Shadrack Kioko, Cliff Gikobi and Joseph Kibui.
The court will rule tomorrow on whether the suspects will be detained for the 20 days as requested by police.
According to the DCI, a hunt for the mastermind identified as Zachary Nyaora Obadia is on.
