No mattresses, no justice: Suspects refuse to appear in Machakos court over poor sleeping conditions

The Kangundo Law Court in Machakos County was on Tuesday forced to adjourn and postpone the hearing of a kidnapping case involving four suspects after they refused to attend the session over poor sleeping conditions in the police cells.

The suspects reportedly failed to appear in court on the grounds that there was no proper accommodation or mattresses to sleep on at the Kangundo Police Station, and instead chose to remain in Machakos Prison.

The four, Duncan Wambua Kimeu, a Machakos taxi driver, Dennis Ndolo Mutunga, Wambua Kinyili Mutunga, and Charles Mutinda Margaret, are accused of kidnapping and robbing a doctor, Titus Kilika, in June last year.

During the ruling, Principal Magistrate Sammy Opande ordered Kangundo Police Station OCS Samuel Mwangi to appear in court on July 29 to respond to the matter.

The court also denied a request to reduce the bond of Ksh.1 million for the first and second suspects.

However, the third and fourth suspects were granted relief, with their bond reduced from Ksh.5 million each to Ksh.1 million, or an alternative cash bail of Ksh.500,000 each.