Three suspects arrested in connection with the June 12 attack at All Saints Cathedral in Kenya have been released after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) withdrew the charges against them. The suspects, George Omondi, Effernburg Wanyama, and Fredrick Omondi, had spent three months in remand after failing to raise the Ksh.300,000 bail. Their release comes a week after All Saints Cathedral leadership wrote to the DPP requesting the withdrawal of the case, citing forgiveness and an opportunity for restorative justice.
On Thursday, the accused persons appeared in court expecting to proceed with the hearing of the case against them but were surprised when the prosecution applied to withdraw the case. Two complainants who had reported the matter to police took the witness stand in support of the prosecution's application. The first was a victim whose phone was stolen during the incident. He told the court that he had since been compensated for the loss and was no longer willing to pursue the case.
The second witness, All Saints Cathedral Head of Security Philemon Samoei, told the court that the church had chosen the path of forgiveness rather than pursuing the matter through the criminal justice system. "It was in the interest of the church that, because the church speaks about forgiveness, the church wishes to withdraw this matter or requests the court that this matter be withdrawn," said Samoei. The three accused persons were subsequently acquitted, bringing the case to an end.
From court, the families of the three headed straight to All Saints Cathedral, where they met with Provost Evans Omollo as the three awaited court proceedings. "We have wholeheartedly forgiven the suspects who were the perpetrators of this act," Provost Omollo noted. The church has committed to supporting the three men as they seek to transform their lives and become peace champions in their communities.
However, Provost Omollo expressed his disappointment with two Nairobi Members of Parliament whom he accused of planning and executing the attack. "They worked closely with four MCAs, two of them from Mathare Constituency and two of them from Dagoretti North Constituency. We therefore can confirm that politicians were at the very heart of this attack," said Provost Omollo.
Provost Omollo claimed that senior politicians interfered with investigations after two other suspects were released earlier. He urged young people to desist from being used and abandoned by politicians. "They're building a script that, if not addressed, then the political class are running away with a very evil behaviour of mobilising younger people, converting them to goons and gangs, and that portends a serious danger for us as a country," he added.
The release of the three suspects and the church's decision to forgive them has been seen as a move towards restorative justice. The incident occurred on June 12, and the suspects had been in remand since then. The DPP's decision to withdraw the charges against them was made a week after the church leadership requested it.
Key points
- The Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charges against the three suspects.
- The church leadership had requested the withdrawal of the case, citing forgiveness and restorative justice.
- Provost Omollo accused two Nairobi Members of Parliament of planning and executing the attack.
