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Police officer Jacob Ogendo withdraws violent robbery case against varsity student Ian Njoroge
Ogendo, who has been in the police service for more than 10 years appeared in court in the company of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and Ian's parents
A traffic police officer, Jacob Ogendo, who was assaulted by university student Ian Njoroge at Mirema, Kasarani in June last year has withdrawn robbery with violence and assault case filed against him.
Milimani principal magistrate Benmark Ekhubi accepted the application to withdraw the case filed by Corporal Ogendo against Njoroge who attacked him while on duty.
While withdrawing the case, the magistrate noted that Chapter 159 (2) (c) the Constitution gives the court authority to allow out of court settlement of matters filed before it.
“Under Chapter 159 (2) (c), the court has the authority to allow the outside of court settlement of matters and I hereby allow the application presented before this court by the complainant,” the magistrate said.
While discharging Njoroge, Ekhubi said “the young man can now go back to college as a free man.”
Ogendo, who has been in the police service for more than 10 years appeared in court in the company of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and Ian’s parents.
He told the court that he has decided to forgive Njoroge after he took the issue as a parent and without being coerced.
“Your honour I decided to withdraw the matter out of consent, I am a parent and I took the decision to forgive him,” Ogendo said.
Regarding the phone valued at Ksh 50,000 that Njoroge was accused of robbing him of, Ogendo told the court that the same was not compensated for but he will not seek the same and he has completely forgiven him.
Ogendo, who confirmed before the court he has not fully recovered from the beating, said he is aware that a withdrawn matter cannot be brought back to court.
Defence lawyers Angiela Wanjiru and Ken Echesa embraced the decision to forgive Njoroge, whom they said is remorseful for his actions.
“Your honour, I appreciate the decision by the complainant to forgive Njoroge and that indicated a sense of humanity and I thank this court for admitting the prayers,” Wanjiru said.
On his part, Echesa asked the court to release the logbook which was deposited by Njoroge as surety.
While speaking to the media outside the court, Echesa thanked Sonko, acknowledging that he stood with them to give his motor vehicle logbook as surety to Njoroge.
Njoroge’s parents also thanked Sonko and urged him to continue supporting those in need.
Njoroge, a student pursuing engineering course, said he has learnt a lesson and he will never repeat the same mistakes again.
Njoroge was charged on June 7 last year with the offences of robbery with violence and assaulting a police officer. The incident elicited public attention after it went viral on social media.
He has been out on bond of Ksh 700,000.
