Five Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers have been arraigned in court over the murder of a 19-year-old boy in the Eldama Ravine
The accused persons were presented at the Eldama Ravine High Court on Monday, June 10, 2024, before Justice Rachael Ngetich.
According to a statement from the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (ODPP), the five KFS officers are facing charges of murder over the incident which occurred on May 8, 2024, in the Maji Mazuri Forest within Baringo County.
ODPP noted that the five are accused of jointly and unlawfully causing the death of Stephen Mwangi, a 19-year-old form three student.
“They are facing charges of murder under Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code. The incident, alleged to have occurred on May 8th, 2024, in the Maji Mazuri Forest area within Baringo County, involved Charles Korir Kipkoech, Lemiso Francis Kiparus, Stanley Njoroge Chege, Simon Mbugua Mwaura, and Eric Mwaura Njenga, who are accused of jointly and unlawfully causing the death of Stephen Mwangi, a 19-year-old Form three student,” ODPP’s statement read in part.
Opposing their bail application
During the hearing at the Eldama Ravine High Court before Justice Ngetich, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Tom Imbali opposed their bail applications.
Imbali who is leading the prosecution team argued that the five KFSe officers are likely to interfere with the witnesses and jeopardise their case. Further, the Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions cited the gravity of the charge and public interest in opposing their bail application.
Imbali emphasised that both the right to life and the right to bail are constitutionally guaranteed, urging the court not to prioritize one over the other.
Additionally, the Imbali urged the court to expedite justice by setting early hearing dates for the case.
“Despite the officers pleading not guilty, the Judge ordered a pre-bail report to be submitted before the next mention scheduled for July 15, 2024, for further directives,” the statement from ODPP further read in part.
The hearing comes days after a police officer raided a camp and shot dead two forest rangers before turning the gun on himself.
According to the police, the officer from the border patrol unit in Turkana shot dead the two at the Cheranganyi Forest Station.
Kenya Forest Service confirmed the incident, announcing a probe to get to the bottom of the deadly attack.
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