Five officers from the Kenya Forest Service accused of the death of a 19-year-old teenager have been arraigned in court.
The officers, who appeared before Justice Rachael Ngetich in Eldama Ravine High Court on Monday, are accused of jointly and unlawfully causing the death of Stephen Mwangi, a form three student.
According to the Office of The Director Of Public Prosecutions, the incident, which happened in the Eldama Ravine sub-county, saw five male KWS police officers involved in such an unlawful and heinous act.
“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 five, who are accused of jointly and unlawfully causing the death of Stephen Mwangi, a 19-year-old Form three student,” detailed part of the ODPP statement.
Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecution, Tom Imbali, led the prosecution, and opposed bail applications citing concerns of witness interference, the gravity of the charge, and the public interest.
Additionally, he argued that the right to life and the right to bail are constitutional and should all be prioritized.
“Both the right to life and the right to bail are constitutionally guaranteed, you should not prioritize one over the other,” Imbali emphasized.
He further pleaded with the court to expedite justice by setting early hearing dates for the case.
However, the officers pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Justice Ngetich ordered a pre-bail report to be submitted before the next mention scheduled for July 15th for further directives.
On May 17, 2024, a similar incident ensued where a cop based in Kericho was arrested over alleged involvement in unlawful and heinous activities. These incidences highlight the trend of wrongful and unconstitutional doings in the country.
