16 teenagers charged after drugs swoop

Sixteen teenagers arrested at an Eldoret night club on Sunday have been charged with being drunk and disorderly.

The minors Tuesday pleaded guilty to the offence and asked the court for leniency, saying they were first offenders and would not repeat the act.

Chief Magistrate Margaret Wambani fined each Sh500 or alternatively to serve a sentence of 30 days in prison. They were charged in two groups of eight.

Meanwhile, Benson Kimatu the manager of Sam’s Discotheque where over 500 teenagers were arrested for engaging in drugs, sex and alcohol consumption, will have to spend the night at the Eldoret Police Station after the same court denied him a bond.

Mr Kimatu was charged with three counts of improper sale of alcoholic drinks and establishing his business in a prohibited space.

In the first two counts, Kimatu was charged with displaying alcoholic drinks for sale without a licence, and selling alcoholic drinks to underage persons, in contravention of sections 8 (1) and 32 (1) of the Uasin Gishu County Alcoholic Control Act.

Basement floor

The third charge was unlawful occupation and use of a basement floor without written permission from public health officers, this being is a breach of Section 242 of the Public Health Act.

Kimatu pleaded not guilty to all charges and asked to be released on bond as the prosecution sought to have the accused person remanded with an aim of preferring more charges against him on the criminal allegations today.

Counsel for the accused, Mathai Maina, told the court his client was a man of social standing and remanding him would demean his status.

But the magistrate considered that the law had two edges after listening to the plea by the defence and the magnitude of charges by the prosecution, and ruled against the provision of a cash bail or bond for the accused.

“I, therefore, deny provision of a bond or cash bail and order the accused person to remain in custody until October 7, awaiting mention of the case for further direction,” ruled Chief Magistrate Wambani. Uasin Gishu County Commandant Nyaga Muchungu said 20 teenagers out of the 500 arrested minors had been presented to court.