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Jkuat students deny kidnapping boy and demanding Sh500K ransom


Two university students have been charged with kidnaping a boy and demanding a Sh500,000 ransom from his mother.

The two students at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat), Mr Levis Oduor and Mr Edwin Benson Ogolla, were charged with kidnapping, attempting to kill and demanding money with menaces.

They denied the three charges allegedly committed on December 4, 2016.

They allegedly  attempted to kill the boy by hitting his head against a wall and strangling him.

Prosecution told  senior principal magistrate Ms Joyce Gandani that Mr Oduor is a repeat offender and a cousin to the victim.

The state prosecutor opposed the release of the two on bond and told the magistrate to allow for their detention until the case is heard and determined.

“ The two suspects will interfere with the witnesses in this case, most of whom are relatives of the victim and the accused,” the magistrate heard.

Mr Oduor was arrested by Police at the Jkuat hospital where he had allegedly taken the boy for treatment.

The magistrate heard that Mr Oduor is the one who took police to the residence of Mr Ogolla where they had allegedly detained the boy for 10 days.

The prosecutuion said the victim and other witnesses will only be safe “ if the suspects are in prison custody.”

In her ruling , Ms Gandani the magistrate said  prosecution has established that it has compelling reasons to detain the suspects pending trial.

“ The accused will remain in custody until January 23, 2017 when the case against them will be heard,” Ms Gandani ruled.