Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko had paid a Sh 5,000 cash bail for a University of Nairobi student who was arrested with five liters of petrol during the University Funding protests on 9th September 2024.
Bernard Wangila Ojiambo was charged with being found in possession of the said petrol in circumstances indicating that he was intending to commit an offence of arson.
It is alleged that Ojiambo committed the offense along Harry Thuku Road near Boulevard Hotel in Nairobi.
He denied the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki.
Ojiambo’s lawyer Danstan Omari, told the court that he was not intending to commit arson since the said petrol was for his motorcycle.
“The accused was arrested while waiting for a ride which was to take him back to his rental house in a slum behind Westlands where he had his own motorcycle that needed the petrol,” Omari said.
According to Omari, Ojiambo uses the motorcycle in his free time to pay for his school fees and basic needs.
He added, “the motorcycle had no petrol and my client had to refuel it by filling a jerrycan which inturn he had to go back home with and fill his motorcycle tank. He had no intention of burning any school as suggested by the prosecution.”
He pleaded with the court to release Ojiambo on a lenient cash bail to enable him to go back to school and sit for his final year examinations.
The lawyer added that he came on record probono since the student could not afford the legal fee.
After the submissions, Ojiambo was released on cash bail which Sonko paid.