Students to settle arson case out of court
A guard inspects a vehicle at the entrance to Sunshine Secondary School in Nairobi on July 23, 2016. Eight students arrested in connection with attempted arson at the school were given seven days to settle the matter out of court. PHOTO | ELVIS ONDIEKI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Chief Magistrate Lucy Gitari allowed the school’s request and directed each of the students to sign a bond of Sh50,000 until August 2, when the school will report on the progress of the negotiations.
Fifteen students from two secondary schools in Nairobi County were Monday charged with arson.
Eight from Sunshine Secondary School were given seven days to settle the matter out of court.
Defence lawyer Cliff Ombeta did not oppose the request by the school to “give dialogue a chance”.
Mr Ombeta said: “Let’s give the school and the students a chance to resolve the matter amicably.”
He added that taking the students through the criminal process would harden them, instead of “assisting them to achieve their academic goals”.
Chief Magistrate Lucy Gitari allowed the school’s request and directed each of the students to sign a bond of Sh50,000 until August 2, when the school will report on the progress of the negotiations.
Seven students from Ruthimitu Mixed Secondary in Dagoretti were accused of setting a dormitory worth Sh2 million ablaze.
Ms Gitari released the seven, who are in Form Four, on a cash bail of Sh20,000 each. The case will be mentioned on August 15.
The students from Sunshine Secondary School had attempted to burn a building at the school on Friday night.
The students were arrested on Friday and detained at the Lang’ata Police Station.
(Editing by Joel Muinde)
