Nandi Governor Stephen Sang has appeared before a Kisumu court, accused of destroying tea bushes and incitement to violence. – By John Mutiso.
In June 2019, the governor was charged with malicious damage of property and incitement to violence that led to the destruction of Sh2 million tea bushes in Kibware estate on June 8th.
For the incitement charge, Sang is accused of saying, “You members of the public arm yourselves and deal with anyone who interferes or enters repossessed land which was earlier grabbed by Kibware Tea Farm.”
Sang, armed with a power saw, was caught on camera cutting down tea bushes planted on the land said to have been grabbed.
While cutting the tea bushes in June 2019, the governor said that he was acting on complaints from members of the public who decried that the four acres of land reserved for the establishment of public utilities had been grabbed.
He was also charged with abuse of office by authorizing the use of two county tractors to destroy tea bushes at the firm. Sang pleaded not guilty to all the three charges before Senior Magistrate Berly Omolo.
Governor Sang spent the night at Central police station after attempts by county officials and leaders to have him released failed. He was released on a Sh1 million bond and alternative bail of Sh500,000.
