A Nairobi court today ordered a case in which former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga and four others are charged with violently robbing police officers their guns at a church in Kasarani area to be mentioned on February 27.
When the case came up for mention before trial magistrate Martha Mutuku, defence lawyer Evans Ondieki informed the court his clients wanted their case be fixed for hearing since it has been pending in court for over three years without being heard.
However the magistrate allowed the request by the defence and directed that the case be mentioned on February 27, to enable prosecution to avail investigating officer to be present so as to take the hearing date of the case.
The lawyer told the court since defence has filed an application in the High Court seeking to retain their previous lawyer Paul Muite in the case they wishes the case in the lower court to proceed as the two of the accused persons namely Njenga Maina and Francis Mwangi wants to contest political seats in August.
In the case the prosecution is opposing Muite from representing the accused persons in the criminal case. The former sect leader who is charged alongside Messrs Mwangi who is vying for starehe Parliamentary seat, Daniel Wanjohi, Ngare Njogu and Stephen Kuria Mwangi maintained that they have the right to be represented by an advocate of their own choice.
The accused persons are facing charges of robbing the police officers attached to Kasarani police station and a businessman of cash, guns and bullets inside the Hope Church at Thome Estate, Nairobi.
Earlier the accused persons had blamed prosecution of allegedly deliberately causing delay in the case by not availing witnesses to testify in the case.