Drama in Kirinyaga court as suspect sings, speaks in tongues

A woman alleged to be among seven suspects linked to the torching of a police vehicle in Kirinyaga County on Wednesday caused a scene in court after she began singing and speaking in tongues.

The seven had been arraigned before Gichugu Law Courts Chief Magistrate Ann Katheria where they were accused of incitement to violence, arson and malicious damage to property.

Magistrate Katheria hence ordered the female suspect, Lydiah Wangeci, to be taken for a mental health test before she is brought back before the court.

The magistrate also ordered the seven to be remanded at Kianyaga Police Station pending arraignment on Friday as detectives search for more suspects.

The seven are accused of torching a police vehicle that hit a boda boda in a fatal road accident at Rwambiti area on the Kutus–Kianyaga road on Sunday.

Two people died and another was seriously injured in the Sunday night accident.

The boda boda carrying two passengers was trying to overtake another car when it rammed into the oncoming police vehicle at Rwambiti area.

Gichugu Deputy OCPD Afred Ng’eno said the boda boda rider died on the spot, while one of the passengers succumbed to injuries at Kerugoya Hospital where the third victim is undergoing treatment.

Following the accident, angry boda boda riders and locals torched the Kianyaga Police Station vehicle.

The deputy OCPD blamed the boda boda rider for the fatal crash, insisting that he was drunk during the accident. He further added that a hunt had been launched for the locals who set the police car on fire.