Two students of Baringo Technical College, Johnathan Lengutan and Ezra Kipruto have been arraigned in Kabarnet Law Courts for leading a protest which led to the closure of the institution.
The students were charged with four counts of disrupting peace and damaging property jointly with others who were not before the court.
“on June 5, 2023, jointly with others not before court willfully and unlawfully led a protest that disrupted peace and led to damage of a police land cruiser GKB 950W also, engaging in malicious damage to property contrary to Section 339 (1) as read with section 339 (2) of the Penal Code and for creating disturbance in a manner to likely cause breach of peace contrary to section 95(1) of the Penal Code by by blocking Kabarnet-Tenges public road using stones and throwing stones to other road users,” read part of the charge sheet.
The duo who study at Baringo Technical College appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Purity Kosgei and pleaded not guilty to the said offence.
The court heard that the damaged police land cruiser had its windscreen broken by the protesting students.
Investigation officer Philip Mwangi while presenting his submissions in court noted that the students deserved a custodial sentence arguing that they would relaunch similar riots again and might clash with the community within if released on bond.
Prosecutor Casmir Obiero however noted that the fourth count was similar to the third count therefore omitting the fourth charge.
The magistrate noted that there was no need to deny a release on bond terms.
“I, therefore, order that the accused be released on a Ksh30,000 bond each with one surety of similar amount or an alternative cash bail of Ksh7,000 each,” ordered Kosgei.
The case will come up for mention on June 20, 2023.
