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Bishop Wanjiru charged with malicious damage to property


Bishop Margaret Wanjiru was on Thursday charged with the offence of causing malicious damage to property and creating disturbance.

She appeared before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi where she was accused of willfully and unlawfully destroying four ballot boxes as well as assorted papers valued at Sh30,000, which is part and parcel of Jubilee party’s property.

She has denied committing the offences on Wednesday at City Park Market, a Jubilee polling station.

The prosecution told the court that the bishop was accompanied by a group of 50 rowdy and noisy people who stormed the place.

INTERFERE WITH WITNESSES

The court heard that some key witnesses, who are Jubilee party members, fled for their lives at the time and have not recorded statements with the police.

Therefore, the prosecution believes that if Ms Wanjiru is freed on bond, she will interfere with ongoing investigations.

The prosecution added that malicious damage to property is a serious offence and that considering the fact that she is an influential member of the society, she might be a flight risk.

The prosecution urged the Magistrate to deny her bond so as to guarantee smooth and peaceful Jubilee nomination exercise to be completed.

The prosecution also hinted that she might be charged with other offences later together with others who had not been arraigned in court.

However, Ms Wanjiru’s lawyer urged the court to consider releasing her on reasonable bond terms saying that even capital offenders are entitled to bail.

RELIGIOUS LEADER

The lawyer told the court that Ms Wanjiru is also a Jubilee member as well as aspirant and is interested with the outcome of the party nomination exercise.

He also argued that if prosecution has not completed its investigations, it should seek for more time to do so instead of having her detained in remand.

“The accused is a well-known member of the society and this court can take judicial notice of that, in fact she is a religious leader hence not a flight risk,” he said.

Magistrate Andayi ordered that she remains in custody until 3pm when a ruling on whether she will be released on bond will be delivered.