The father of Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT) student who was shot after sneaking into the State House has pleaded with the government not to take legal action against his son.
Brian Kibet, 25, was shot and injured after he defied an order to surrender but instead drew out a knife promoting the highly trained guards manning the compound to open fire.
The fifth-year mechanical engineering student is currently at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where he is nursing a wound on his shoulder.
Following the incident, his father, David Bera, has pleaded with the State not to prosecute his son on grounds he was mentally sick.
Bera said Brian, who had threatened to hurt President Uhuru Kenyatta on his social media platforms, had no ill motive against the Head of State, arguing that his behaviour was due to psychotic disorder he had been battling.
“My plea to the government is not to prosecute my son because what he did was a mental case. Brian is sick and what he needs is proper psychiatric care. Taking him to court is subjecting him to more anguish,” said Bera, in an interview with the Standard.
The father noted the varsity student had no known criminal record or history of drug abuse, and, therefore, he deserves to be pardoned for causing security scare at the official residence of the country's most powerful man.
“My son has never been involved in any form of criminal activities since his childhood. In fact, he is among the most obedient, honest and brilliant children with no known case of drug abuse. He is a member of SDA Church," said Bera.
A detective investigating the Monday incident said they are convinced the suspect may have been mentally unstable.
"Based on interrogations so far, it is evident that this young man is undergoing some challenges," the detective told Capital News.