Teenager pleads guilty to assaulting kanjo, fined Sh30,000 or 8 months in prison

Nairobi County workers hanging on a pickup in Nairobi. [Wilberforce Okwiri,Standard]

Joseph Ngege, 18, pleaded guilty to assault charges before Chief Magistrate Philip Mutua this week.

He admitted to assaulting Godfrey Kavosi, along with others not present in court, causing him actual bodily harm in the Bukhungu area.

Chief Magistrate Mutua fined him Sh30,000, with an alternative sentence of 8 months in prison.

“The accused’s guilty plea has been recorded by the court. I, therefore, fine him Sh30,000, with a default of 8 months imprisonment,” said Magistrate Mutua.

Prosecutor Catherine Onyango told the court that the complainant was assaulted on October 25, while on duty with his colleagues at 12:30 p.m.

“The complainant is a county revenue clerk who was inspecting county stickers when a tuktuk without a registration number approached. Upon seeing the inspection, the driver swerved to avoid them,” Onyango explained.

During this manoeuvre, the tuktuk overturned, and its windscreen shattered.

“The other occupants of the tuktuk became angry and confronted the complainant and his colleagues,” Onyango added.

The prosecutor further stated that the complainant was seized and forced into the tuktuk, where he was assaulted.

“They drove him to a garage, where he was assaulted by Ngege and others not before the court. They also demanded that he pay for the windscreen replacement,” said Onyango.

While there, the complainant managed to call his colleagues, who informed the police. He was then rescued and taken to the hospital.

Onyango presented a treatment note from Kakamega County Referral Hospital, where the complainant received treatment.

In mitigation, Ngege asked the court for leniency. “Your Honour, I didn’t know it would go this far. I am remorseful and will never repeat the mistake,” he said.