NAIROBI,Kenya, oct, 28 – Appearing before Makadara Law Courts principal magistrate Jackie Kibosia, 11 men were charged with arson and causing malicious damage to property worth Sh19.2 million.
The accused were allegedly hired to evict homeless children that were at the disputed facility in Pangani area of Nairobi.
The fire is said to have broke out during attempts to have the homeless children evicted.
The accused include: Moses Omondi Oluoch, Musa Karioki Burundi, Alex Machuki Morara, Michael Omondi, Halkano Mohamed and Peter Nyamato.
Joshua Nyambengera, Francis Mburu, Wilberforce Oyamo, Patrick Kandivila and Evans Magata.
They however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to court documents, the are said to have committed the offence on October 22,2021.
They are said to have wilfully and unlawfully damaged a building containing equipment and household properties valued at Sh19, 218,855.
The property is said to be of Kenya Evangelical Lutheran church.
The accused lawyer told the court that they were hired by a private developer and were not aware of any pre-existing dispute over the ownership of the property.
“The accused persons are not the targeted arsonists. They are casual workers hired by an engineer for the work. To avoid a miscarriage of justice, we urge they be treated as witnesses. They did not know anything about the pre-existing dispute over the property and the engineer should be held responsible,” said lawyer Robert Asembo.
The accused are said to have been paid Sh1,000 each.
The Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church runs a children’s home at the property.
With several people said to have been injured, the prosecution is also pursuing assault charges alongside theft -Prporty is said to have been looted during the incident.
The suspects were freed on a cash bail of Sh20,000 each with the hearing now set for December 14,2021.
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