Hawker denies selling replica of police attire, blames Gikomba

A Nyeri hawker charged with being in unlawful possession and selling of attire that resemble police and military uniform has told court he innocently bought the consignment at Gikomba market.

While appearing before Senior Resident Magistrate Ruth Kefa, Joseph Ndurere said he usually sources for his good at Gikomba and could therefore not tell what was inside bale of the second hand clothes.

He had been charged that on March 19 along Gakere road within Nyeri town he was found selling police uniform.

But in his defence, the mitumba dealer said once he purchased the consignment from Gikomba market in Nairobi he could not predict what was inside a bale.

The trader said a directive issued by retired Inspector-General Joseph Boinnet in January ordering police to arrest anyone found donning clothes that resemble military or police uniforms, was aimed at killing businesses.

While cross examining a police officer who arrested him Corporal Edwin Karasia, the Ndurere questioned how the attires can be said to be similar to those of the disciplined servicemen.

He claimed his goods did not have official emblems of Kenya National Police Service or the military but had some drawing of children riding on motor cycles.

Karasia testified that he arrested the accused along Gakere street in Nyeri town on orders of the Officer Commanding Nyeri Central police station.

He told court that he found the accused with 30 trousers, 11 shirts, one t-shirt and two shorts, all resembling the police uniform.

“The clothes found with the accused look like those of the police. He did not have a letter from IG allowing him to possess such clothes as stipulated in the law,” said the officer while producing the attires in court as exhibit.

The hearing of the case was adjourned to May 28, this year.

The accused is out on a bond of Sh100,000.