DPP drops case against Narok Senator Stephen Ole Ntutu and four MPs

The Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko has dropped a case against Narok Senator Stephen Ole Ntutu and five MPs, who had been arrested for holding demonstrations against Governor Samuel Tunai.

The prosecution told Principal Magistrate Kenneth Cheruyoit on Thursday that there was no evidence to sustain a trial against the five.

"I have instructions from the DPP that the evidence contained in the investigation file taken in its totality does not meet the threshold to justify a criminal prosecution against the respondents,' prosecutor Daniel Karuri said.

The leaders will instead be witnesses in an investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to establish who shot and killed a protestor identified as Sikona Ole Muntet during the demonstrations.

Senior counsel Paul Muite said his clients will be seeking compensation for the mistreatment and humiliation they underwent in the hands of the police after they were summoned to record statements.

Mr Ntutu, Members of National Assembly Moitalel ole Kenta (Narok North), Korei Lemein (Narok South), Patrick Ntutu (Narok North) and Johana Ng’eno (Emurwa Dikir) were arrested in January over protests in Narok town that left two people dead.

They were taken to court and released on bond of Sh500,000.

The five were arrested two days after violence demonstration over how the Narok County government spends billions of shillings it collects from the Maasai Mara Game Reserve annually.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery had suspended all rallies and demonstrations in Narok warning that the escalating tension in the county could result into violent confrontations.