After weeks behind cells, the now famous Ambira Students that were arrested after being caught on video hurling insults at Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and her Education counterpart Amina Mohammed, might soon join their Parents at home.
This comes after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions made revelations that it is planning to withdraw the case against the embattled students.
The Office of the DPP say’s that it’s move to withdraw the case has been informed with the fact that there is no sufficient evidence to help nail down the Students.
@ODPP_KE to withdraw the case against 16 Ambira high school students for lack of evidence.
— Ali ‘Mwamvita’ Manzu (@Ali_Manzu) December 3, 2018
The news comes as a great relief to the students and their Parents who have for weeks sought for their release to no avail.
Last week, the students appeared before Ukwala Resident Magistrate Gladys Adhiambo but did not take plea to any charge after the prosecution requested for seven more days to wrap up investigations.
The magistrate granted the prosecution’s request and ordered the minors detained at Ugunja Police Station until December 3. (Today)
“The application to hold the suspects at Ugunja police station for purposes of completing investigations is merited and unopposed,” she said.
“The suspects have indicated that they are all minors and I therefore order that they be held at the children’s cells.”
A number of Kenyans have aired their displeasure online over the manner with which the students have been treated and have specifically singled out Inspector General of Police for the serious manner he has handled the matter.
Kenyans have asked the IG to display the same level of commitment when dealing with other heinous acts of crime and when dealing with corruption cases that mostly affect senior government officials.
Boinnet’s decision to address the Press on the same has also not been received well by Kenyans.
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna came out to defend the now detained Ambira students.
According to Sifuna, the government has overreacted. Sifuna pointed out that there are limitations to the freedom of speech but hurling insults is certainly not one of them.
Sifuna argues that the students need professional guidance and counseling and not a jail sentence.
“Aarghh…this is an over reaction! The limitations upon freedom of speech are known bwana and “hurling insults” isnt one of them! There really isnt an equivalent to the release one feels upon finishing high school. What they need is guidance not jail!,” tweeted Sifuna.
Activist Boniface Mwangi also took issue with Boinnet’s interest in the student’s case and called him out for not giving the same importance to investigating the massive looting in the country.
“So the inspector general @JBoinnet has time and resources investigating misbehaving minors but not the looting of our taxes. What those boys did is a misdemeanor, a petty offence. In Kenya our leaders can disrespect us but we can’t return the favour or we risk going to jail,” tweeted Boniface Mwangi.
Bloggers Abraham Mutai and Robert Alai also joined in the debate.
“Am shocked that a few misbehaving boys speaking rather some truths with what is wrong with our country found its way to the national agenda and the diaries of both Boinnet and Uhuru Kenyatta. I wish when we tweet thieves of Maize like Kiunjuri finds its way to Uhuru’s speech,” tweeted Abraham Mutai.
“The height of pettiness. The IG was seriously briefing the media on this? Now makes think that those kids should be celebrated. How do you even have time to brief the media on this while you are doing nothing about corruption?” tweeted Robert Alai.
Do you support the Office of the DPP’s move to withdraw the case against the Students?