IAN NJOROGE FREED WITH A KSH. 700K BOND IN A POLICE ASSAULT CASE

Ian Njoroge, the 19-year-old who was seen attacking a traffic police officer in Mirema in a video that went viral, has been given a Ksh. 700,000 bond.

This came after the Milimani Law Courts gave probation officers until 2:00 p.m. on Friday to provide their report on the case; if they didn't, they would decide whether to grant his bail request.

The probation had requested an extension of seven days to submit their materials.

The High Court's declaration of unconstitutionality of section 96(2) of the Penal Code, which established the robbery with violence charge against Njoroge, led the court to determine that the case against him was unconstitutional.

The prosecution's petition that Njoroge not be released on bail or bond because he posed a flight risk was also rejected by the court as unrealistic because it was not backed up by any evidence.

Due to the significant public outrage that followed the incident, the prosecution had requested the court on Wednesday to refuse Njoroge bail or bond, citing several reasons, including an alleged impending threat to his safety.

"That the situation is hostile to the accused person on the ground as a result of the matter becoming public." In an affidavit, DCI Investigating Officer Josephat Rotich stated that the accused individual was in immediate danger as a result of public agitation.

The prosecution also emphasized the possibility that, in the event of Njoroge's release, he would manipulate witnesses.

"It is possible that the accused may obstruct important witnesses. Some of whom the accused knows personally and some of whom were caught on camera via social media, the prosecution claimed.

Furthermore, Rotich emphasized that Njoroge never turned himself in following his attack on the police officer, suggesting that he is a flight risk.

The accused did not report to the station following the event; instead, he fled into hiding until he was located by police and taken into custody. He poses a flight risk as a result," the DCI investigating officer stated.

Before the culprit is released on bond, Rotich stated that the police officer who was attacked by Njoroge also wishes to testify.

"The 57-year-old complainant wants to testify before the accused is freed because he feels that he has been victimized on social media.”I understand that the right to bail and bond is guaranteed by the Constitution, but there are circumstances in which the right may be denied," he stated.

"I have been informed by the counsel handling the information which I believe is true that the reasons given are compelling enough to deny the respondent person bond."