A teenager accused of assaulting a police officer along Kamiti Road and robbing him of a communication gadget has been released from the Industrial Area remand prison, thanks to former governor Mike Sonko’s intervention.
Sonko’s aide, Francis Wambua, facilitated Ian Njoroge’s release by standing as surety for him.
Njoroge was granted bail last week, set at Sh700,000, by Milimani Principal Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi.
The magistrate dismissed the prosecution’s application to keep Njoroge detained for his safety. The prosecution had argued that releasing Njoroge posed a danger to him due to potential revenge from other officers, but the magistrate found this claim insufficient to justify detention.
In his ruling, Magistrate Ekhubi also declared the robbery with violence charge against Njoroge unconstitutional. He cited that Section 96 (2) of the Penal Code, under which the offence was anchored, had been declared unconstitutional by the High Court. The magistrate further noted that the prosecution’s argument that Njoroge was a flight risk lacked supporting evidence.
“The allegations that Ian Njoroge should not be released on bail and or bond because he is a flight risk is plausible since it is not supported by any evidence,” said Magistrate Ekhubi.
