Former bodyguard to Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior was granted a 3-year non-custodial sentence on Thursday following reckless shooting that occurred on September 23, 2014.
Shadrack Kioko, the accused, was among three police officers charged at the Makueni law courts after unlawful shooting at the Makueni County Assembly premises.
According to The Standard, the court acquitted the other police officers; Ndunda Muthoka, Francis Daido, and Lumbu Musyoka.
Ndunda Muthoka was attached to the then Makueni County Assembly Speaker, Francis Daido was bodyguard to the then majority leader and Lumbu Musyoka was a security officer assigned to the immediate former Kaiti constituency MP.
Senior Principal Magistrate, James Mwaniki, on December 19, 2018 found that although the other bodyguards that opened fire to the crowd that accompanied Governor Kivutha Kibwana, Kioko shot at close range and wounded Brian Mutua, an assembly orderly.
The shooting also left several people nursing gun wounds. The wounded were William Kinoti (Kibwana’s bodyguard), Festus Nyamai, Francis Mutisya and Yakob Bule.
The opening of fire by other officers was an attempt to disperse the crowd towards the assembly, posing a threat to politicians who had converged for a meeting, the court said.
Kioko had pleaded with the court to have mercy on him and not be given custodial sentence since he needed to nurse his ailing father.
The court considered his plea when a probation report by Rosemary Mwalewa was presented before the court on Thursday.
Senior Principle Magistrate, Mwaniki granted the 3-year non-custodial sentence in a range of community work.
The court also stated he would receive guidance and counseling while on probation.
