15 in court for inciting violence in Mau Narok

FIFTEEN men accused of inciting the Maasai in Mau Narok to hold a demonstration were yesterday arraigned before a Nakuru court.The group, led by US based Prof Joel Meitamei ole Dapash, appeared before chief magistrate Wilbroda Juma.They denied the charges.

The 15 were arrested over the weekend when police disrupted the planned demonstration at Tipis Trading Centre. They were accused that on March 26 at Tipis Trading Centre in Njoro, while with other people not before court, took part in an unlawful assembly contrary to Section 79 of the Penal Code.

They faced a second charge of incitement to violence. They were accused of uttering the words “IDPs will not enter Kasuku Farm even if police come with bullets”, without lawful excuse. A third charge of arson was levelled against four of the accused persons.

Daniel Santito, Selepui Mateu, Ngenges Komomoru and Maripet Dargash were accused of unlawfully setting fire to clothes and cushions worth Sh10,000, the property of Margaret Wambui Kariuki.

The magistrate ordered that 11 of the accused persons be granted bond of Sh20,000 each with a similar surety. They were given the option of a Sh10,000 cash bail.

Four others who faced the arson charge were given a bond of Sh50,000 with one similar surety each with the option of a Sh25,000 cash bail. The case will be heard on May 12 and 13 and mentioned on April 7.

Yesterday’s group is the second to be arraigned before court facing charges related to the resistance of a move by government to resettle 915 IDP families on the 2,400 acre farm in Mau Narok.

Source, The Star