A Thika court has fined 16 men each Sh4,500 for holding an unlawful assembly allegedly to execute a plan to burn down a slaughter house in Makongeni near Thika-Garissa Road.
The 16 men from Makongeni Estate pleaded guilty to holding an illegal assembly and discussing the possibility of setting ablaze the Thika Slaughter run hall facility on the basis that it was old and small.
The prosecution Inspector Ali told the court that the accused were found feasting on goat meat during the gathering where their discussion was of the view that the slaughter house should be destroyed to make the county government build a modern one.
They are said to have been planning for the official meeting on several occasions which they ultimately convened without police license.
Morris Mathu the leader of the group, however pleaded with the court that the hall they wanted demolished was old and that they wanted it replaced with a modern one.
They were accused of committing the offence on September 25, this year at Makongeni Fine Hotel in Thika town.
Resident magistrate Esther W Mburu ordered that they pay a fine of Sh4,500 or serve two weeks in jail in default.