Nyeri chief’s kidnap case kicks off

By MURIMI MWANGI

A case in which two men are charged for allegedly kidnapping a Nyeri chief has kicked off despite earlier protestations by the administrator that the charges be dropped.

The case came up for hearing yesterday before Nyeri Resident Magistrate John Aringo, and the chief being the complainant and the first witness gave her oral testimony at the court.

Ms Pauline Mathenge, the assistant chief in Rehema sub location, Naromoru location, Nyeri County, narrated how she was kidnapped on October 23, last year. The two suspects, Charles Wahome and David Karanja –who were at the chief’s house on the day of the abduction discussing a land sale deal with her – are accused of kidnapping the chief from her Narumoru home.

Last year, Ms Mathenge stunned the court when she requested for the case to be withdrawn claiming that she believed the two suspects were innocent.

The application was however, vehemently opposed by prosecutors Stancelous Mwangi and Bernard Wamalwa who handled the case on two separate occasions, citing the seriousness of the offence.

The chief told the court that on the material day, Karanja was in her house for the land deal but left immediately  after praying with her, before she was later abducted.   She narrated how on the fateful day, five men armed with guns and dressed in police uniforms hounded her to their vehicle and blindfolded her. She said the suspects later demanded for her husband’s contacts and started demanding for a ransom.