Brian Kibet Bera, a fifth-year Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology Engineering student has emerged after weeks in police custody.
Appearing before Magistrate Francis Andayi on Wednesday, Kibet pleaded with the court to release him and asked for forgiveness from President Uhuru Kenyatta and all Kenyans.
“ … If they take me to Mathare it will be a punishment…I request that you forgive me …I will be like people of the New Testament,” he said.
The prosecution team had asked that he be taken to Mathare Hospital for a mental assessment before taking plea.
“It is only just and fair that he be taken to the facility and only until he is fully recovered when he can take the plea,” said the prosecution team.
However, Kibet's lawyer objected this call stating that a report from Kenyatta National Hospital revealed that he suffered from mental illness.
His father, who was also present at the court pleaded with the court to release his son. He noted that he will personally take him to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, where he will be treated.
“My request is for the court to allow me as his father to take him to hospital…it might take a long time for him to recover but detaining him in police custody will not help his condition,” the father pleaded.
The fifth-year student attempted to sneak into the State House on June 10 but was shot on his shoulder by security guards.