Business was disrupted at Wundanyi Law Court Wednesday after hundreds of angry residents stormed the premises to demand the removal of a magistrate they accused of freeing a defiler.
Led by Sauti ya Wanawake lobby group, the residents together with pupils from Nguraru Primary School demanded that senior principal magistrate Nicholas Njagi be transferred.
Sauti ya Wanawake Wundanyi branch chairperson Lydia Mwamburi who accused the magistrate of failing to handle the matter professionally said the suspect was released under unclear circumstances.
Ms Mwamburi said the suspect was taken to court to answer to charges of defiling a schoolgirl said to be mentally handicapped.
The residents were demanding for the closure of the law court until the magistrate is transferred for denying justice to the schoolgirl who is currently recuperating at home.
“If the courts cannot help us get justice, then where else can we get help? The magistrate failed to handle the matter professionally,” said Ms Mwamburi.
Magistrate Njagi however told the protesters that he had released the suspect to enable police amend the charge sheet, which was defective.
Mr Njagi said the case against the suspect, Mr Samuel Mkungu could not continue with the defective charges.
“It should be understood that the suspect was not acquitted but was discharged as police amend the charge sheet. It’s within the law to have the charge sheet amended so that it can fully capture the complainant’s accusations,” said the magistrate.