Murang'a county minister faces robbery with violence charges

Murang’a County Executive Member for Water and Irrigation Paul Macharia has been charged with robbery with violence in court.

The minister was accused, jointly with others not before the court, of robbing Eston Gathima Sh13,450 at Kiawambeu Treatment Plant and beat him on August 27.

He denied the charges before Principal Magistrate Antony Mwichigi.

Through his lawyer Ndegwa Mbui, the Mr Macharia protested the charges describing them as trumped up. He accused the prosecution of using the criminal justice system to settle a civil matter.

“There is a pending civil case matter between Murang’a Water and Sewerage Company and Murang’a County government but prosecution wants to use a criminal justice system to settle a civil matter," he argued.

The defence also urged the court to admit the minister with reasonable bail and bond terms saying that he was not arrested but availed himself to the police.

The court released Mr Macharia on a bond of Sh500,000 and a surety of the same or a cash bail of Sh200,000.

The case will be mentioned on November 17 when the prosecution is expected to consolidate the case with others who had been charged over the same offense separately.

They are Alex Mbote and Stepehen Chege.

The minister is also facing other charges of assault during the same day when Murang’a County Governor Mwangi Wa Iria and his supporters stormed Kiawambeu treatment plant.

They had gone at the treatment plant to reconnect water which had been switched off after Muwasco employees went on strike when the employees clashed with the county government officials.