The DPP insisted that there is sufficient evidence to charge the students with arson and conspiracy to commit felony/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 27- Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko has challenged Monday’s ruling by the Children’s Court that allowed eight Sunshine Secondary Scholl students to reach an out-of-court agreement with the school’s management.
If the agreement was to fail, the court ruled that the students will be charged on August 2.
The DPP insisted that there is sufficient evidence to charge the students with arson and conspiracy to commit felony.
He argued that the ruling failed to recognize the mandate of the office of prosecution while pointing out that the students were already past the age that would hinder him from instituting charges.
The students drawn from form one to three were arrested last week for attempting to burn their dorm.
Lawyers Cliff Ombeta and Jason Ombioga, acting for the students, on Monday informed the court that the negotiations commenced on Saturday following the arrest of the students on Friday night.
The students, who were in police custody, were released by Chief Magistrate Lucy Gitari on personal bonds of Sh50, 000 each.
The two lawyers had implored her to do so as no school property was actually destroyed and to keep the students from being “hardened” by the criminal justice system.
They also argued that it was best practice to encourage alternative dispute resolution.
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