City street preacher jailed for seeking audience with Matiang’i
A Nairobi street preacher has been handed a one year probation term for causing disturbance in an attempt to seek audience with Interior Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i.
Ms Jemimah Wangari Waruingi, 51 was jailed by senior principal magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot on Tuesday.
In mitigation, the preacher said she just wanted Dr Matiang’i “who is a tough and no nonsense Cabinet Secretary to intervene in resolving a land dispute pitting her family in Nakuru County.”
FATHER’S LAND
“Your Honour, I camped for three days outside Harambee House to seek audience with Dr Matiang’i over dispute on my late father’s land which was transferred from this Milimani High Court to Nakuru where it has stalled,” Ms Waruingi said.
Wielding a Bible and dressed in a red rob, the preacher disclosed that she wanted Dr Matiang’i to accompany her to the office of the Chief Justice David Maraga to plead for a speedy determination of the land dispute.
“ Me and my children are languishing in poverty yet we have a large parcel of land which I can’t utilize due to a pending succession case at the Nakuru High Court,” the preacher explained.
“ Do you have any document to prove that there is a pending case,” Mr Cheruiyot asked her.
“ Yes , a faithful in my Church Mr Reuben Ogechi who has accompanied me to follow these proceedings has a court order with him,”She answered.
She beckoned him and he passed a copy of the order to the magistrate who upon perusing it summoned two probation officers Ms Jenevive Akinyi and Mr Peter Macharia to interview her and also call Nakuru Law Courts to establish the position of the case.
HARAMBEE HOUSE
Ms Waruingi had earlier told the magistrate that she had camped outside Harambee House together with her children for to seek assistance.
“ I left my children at the Central Police Station and I do not know where they were taken. Release me to go and look for them ,”Ms Waruingi pleaded.
In their report, the probation officers said the preacher suffered mental trauma due to the pending land dispute.
Mr Macharia said the probation office will offer her legal assistance to resolve the land case where she is seeking to be appointed the administrator of the estate of her late father Muturi Ndirangu.
They said Mr Ogechi has volunteered to assist her and her children.
‘SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE’
“ I recommend that she be placed under our custody for one year during which she will be offered spiritual guidance and also legal aide for the land dispute,” Mr Macharia said.
Mr Cheruiyot committed her to a one year probation term and advised her to cooperate with them.
“ Thank you your Honour. My prayers have been answered and my request has finally reached the relevant offices,” Ms Waruingi said as she bowed and left the courtroom.
She pleaded guilty to creating disturbance by shouting at security personnel at the Office of the President on June 25 saying : “ Lazima ni muone Matiang’i, lazima shida yangu ijulikane leo (I must see Matiang’i and my plight must be known).”