BY IRENE ONYANGO.
Seventeen residents of Naivasha accused of destroying a fence to a farm linked to Kenya Kwanza have been detained at Lang’ata Police Station awaiting a decision conclusion of investigations.
The 16 men and one woman were brought before a Nairobi court sought to detain them for 14 days to complete the probe.
The suspects were arrested on Friday, March 1, at Gathondia Village in Naivasha are alleged to have trespassed and damaged a barbed concrete pole fence at Eburru Hills Farm Limited, a farm alleged to belong to Kenya Kwanza politician.
In a miscellaneous application, the investigating officer John Kinyongie informed the Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe that the 17 are believed to have damaged the farm’s barbed fence valued at Sh 2.3 million on 29th February.
The suspects included Ruth Wangui Mwangi, David Mwaura Wanjiru, Eliud Kinyanjui Mungai, John Maina Ngugi, Julius Njoroge Wambui, Julius Kinyua John and Elijah Mugwe Ndenderu.
Others were Alvin Kamano Ngugi, Ann Wanjiku, Daniel Njogu Njuguna,George Kimani Thuku, Paul Maina, Joram Mogeni, Benjamin Ndirangu Mwangi, James Ngugi Nganga and Joseph Macharia Maina
Kinyongie told the Magistrate’s court that he needed more time to assess the damaged property, record statements from the suspects as well as extract data from the suspects’ mobile phones incase of any prior communication before the incident.
Further, the Officer told the Court that the suspects had not confirmed any fixed place home, hence it will be difficult to trace them for purposes of investigations, in any case they are released.
The police, therefore, pleaded with the court to direct they be detained for 14 days at Naivasha Police Station.
While opposing the application, lawyer Mbugua Mureithi accused the police of being used by politicians and land grabbers to punish innocent citizens.
Mureithi questioned why the investigating officer had to seek for the directions at Milimani Law Courts as opposed to Naivasha Law Courts which is closer to where the offense allegedly took place and have the jurisdiction to decide the application.
