- A man was on Wednesday charged with trafficking cannabis sativa popularly known as bhang by storing contrary to the law.
- He was released on Sh200,000 bond with the same surety, with the alternative of Sh100,000 cash bail.
Image: FILE
In a week of four days, considering Tuesday was a national holiday, there was at least one acquittal in a high profile case and a sentencing in another.
Here is a compilation of the two alongside other court cases that took place this week:
Ex-Treasury CS Rotich acquitted in Sh63 billion graft case
Former Treasury CS Henry Rotich will spend the festive season a happy man.
This is after him and eight others were on Thursday, December 14, cleared in the Sh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer dam graft case.
In her ruling, trial Magistrate Eunice Nyutu said there was no evidence to warrant them being placed on their defence.
"All the accused persons in this case are hereby acquitted under section 210 due to lack of evidence as a result of the reckless dereliction of duty by the prosecution," the magistrate said.
She said there was no evidence placed before the court to show that Rotich and his co-accused had the sole aim of defrauding the government of the monies.
The former CS was first arraigned on July 23, 2019, and had on November 20, 2023, asked the court to acquit him saying no money was lost in the financing and development of the dams project.
Naftali Kinuthia handed 40-year in jail term in Ivy Wangeci's murder
Four years ago, Naftali Kinuthia brutally murdered medical student Ivy Wangeci by hacking her with an axe outside the entrace of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
On December 14, 2023, the court sentenced him to 40 years in jail.
While delivering the judgment, Justice Stephen Githinji said the offence committed was brutal and called for a harsh sentence against the convict.
Kinuthia followed the proceedings virtually from the Eldoret GK prison.
In April 2019, Kinuthia travelled to Eldoret to wish Ivy, who he claimed was his girlfriend, a happy birthday even though their relationship was estranged.
Ivy had, however, blocked his phone number for some time making it impossible for him to reach her.
When he got to Eldoret, Ivy told him she had a new boyfriend and he decided to go back.
He told the court in mitigation that when he was getting into his car, he looked back and saw Ivy hugging and holding hands with a male friend around 50 meters away.
"I lost control and was too angry because of what was happening before me. I wasn't myself again and can't tell how I decided to pick the axe and attack her," he said during the defence hearing.
Kinuthia said the axe had been in his car for over a year and he had bought it for his own security because of working at night many times.
Jowie, Maribe to know fate in January in Monica Kimani's murder
Former TV news anchor Jackie Maribe and her ex-fiancé Jowie Irungu will wait until January 26, 2024 to know court's verdict in the murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani.
This was declared on Friday after the High Court, for the second time, postponed its judgment.
The first time the presiding Judge said she was indisposed.
This time round, trial Judge Grace Nzioka told parties that she received exhibits which are crucial in helping her determine the case as late as Thursday at 7pm.
"I took time to write the judgment. We have made progress. But on Monday, I discovered that when the file was sent to me not all exhibits were sent to me," she said.
Win for Nyakang'o as court stops intended prosecution over Telekom sale
It was relief for Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o after the court issued an order stopping her arrest and prosecution over the controversial Sh6 billion buyout of Telkom Kenya.
"A conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the respondents from arresting, charging or prosecuting the petitioner about matters pertaining to her duties as the Controller of Budget until March 13, 2024," the order by Justice Chacha Mwita reads.
The High Court issued the order after Nyakang’o through Lawyer Danstan Omari told the court that she is apprehensive of the respondents; EACC, DPP and the AG.
They told the court that they were devising a plan to have her take a plea in a bid to remove her from office.
Man charged with trafficking bhang
A man was on Wednesday charged with trafficking cannabis sativa popularly known as bhang by storing contrary to the law.
While appearing before Principal Magistrate Paul Wechuli at Kithimani Law Courts in Yatta, Paul Muli pleaded not guilty to the offence.
According to the prosecution, Muli was on Monday at Matuu within Machakos County found in his house trafficking 20 brooms, 18 rolls and 700 grams of bhang with a street value of Sh22,000.
He was released on Sh200,000 bond with the same surety, with the alternative of Sh100,000 cash bail.
The case will be mentioned on January 4, 2024.
The Star wishes you a happy and safe festive season