Wrangles facing the water sector in Murang’a continue to escalate after the county
executive in charge of water Paul Macharia was arraigned
for robbery with violence charges.
Macharia was arraigned in a Murang’a court on Thursday accused of robbing Eston Gathima Sh13,450 at Kiawambeu water treatment plant on August 27.
Yesterday, he was charged at the same court with another charge of assaulting Gathima who is a board member of Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (Muwasco).
His lawyer Alex Ndegwa applied to have both cases consolidated and asked Principal magistrate Anthony Mwichigi to prefer a reasonable cash bail or bond to allow the CEC to continue with his work.
The defence’s application for a bond was sharply protested by the complainant’s lawyer Theophilis Kamwaro who said given his position in the county government, the CEC may interfere with witnesses.
“If granted, then the bond should be hefty and have conditions,” Kamwaro added.
Read:
But Mwichigi asked the prosecution to make use of the Witness Protection Agency if it feels that witnesses may be interfered with.
The law, Mwichigi said, provides for all suspects to be provided with a bond or cash bail.
The magistrate released Macharia on a bond of Sh 200,000 and a surety of the same amount or a cash bail of Sh200,000.
Mwichigi directed the prosecution to consolidate both cases before November 17 when the case will be mentioned.
Two other aides of governor Mwangi wa Iria, Alex Mbote and Stephen Chege were arraigned before Mwichigi on Wednesday facing charges of assault and robbery with violence consecutively.
Wa Iria is expected to hold a water stakeholders’ meeting at Ihura stadium to discuss water issues both in the county and central region.
Also read:
Related;