Presidential aspirant charged with attempted suicide

Peter Solomon Gichira in a Nairobi court on may 29, 2017 when he was charged with attempted suicide, creating disturbance and malicious damage to property of IEBC valued at 30,000 after being barred from vying as an independent presidential aspirant. PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The prosecution told the court that the accused attempted to end his life by attempting to jump off sixth floor of Anniversary Towers where Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices are located.
  • Before he was arrested he allegedly damaged an air conditioner machine, an internet socket as well as a door, property belonging to the electoral agency worth Sh30,000.

Presidential aspirant Peter Gichira who on Saturday tried to kill himself after being disqualified by the electoral agency has been charged and freed on bail.

Mr Gichira was on Monday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi where he denied three offences — attempted suicide, malicious damage and creating disturbance.

The prosecution told the court that the accused attempted to end his life by trying to jump off sixth floor of Anniversary Towers where Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices are located.

“On May 27, at IEBC offices, you attempted to kill yourself,” the court heard.

He was accused of allegedly shouting and demanding for an explanation of why he had been barred from vying as an independent Presidential aspirant.

He was also accused of interrupting activities at IEBC offices and was therefore handed over to the police.

Before he was arrested he allegedly damaged an air conditioner machine, an internet socket as well as a door, property belonging to the electoral agency worth Sh30,000.

He was arrested and detained at Central police station before being charged at Milimani law courts where he was freed on Sh200,000 cash bail.

Prior to his detention, Mr Gichira had moved to the High Court where he had sued the IEBC and the Attorney General.

He had sought to have IEBC barred from locking him out of the Presidential race on grounds that he had not met the set criteria.

In his suit, he had protested against the fact that the commission had notified aspirants to present their signatures in Microsoft Excel format and that the signatories must not be members of any registered political party.

He had also argued that he had met all other qualifications except those two which he claimed had been announced on social media by the IEBC on May 7.

He claimed that he had already submitted his intention to vie for the Presidential seat, he had already been cleared by the Registrar of Political parties and that he had collected more than 2,000 signatures from 24 counties as required.

He had therefore wanted the IEBC compelled to accept his documents in whatever format he would present them while arguing that the Microsoft excel format requirement was discriminatory.

He had alleged that the said format was not a condition when he was first issued with forms, that most areas have no electricity and photocopy machines hence it is unrealistic to demand that documents be presented in that way.

His trial will kick off on June 15.