Police with the three suspects accused of abducting form 4 girls in an Eldoret school. [Photo: Joe Khisa]
An Eldoret court will on Wednesday make a ruling as to whether three people accused of abducting and defiling two Form 4 girls will be released on bond or not.
The three; Anne Njeri, Paul Githinji and Peter Maina are accused of abducting the two girls, students of a local school in the outskirts of Eldoret town.
They were arrested in Limuru last Thursday while allegedly trying to escape with the girls aged 17.
While applying for the three to be released on bond pending hearing of the case, lawyers representing the accused led by Stanly Kagunza argued that their clients had the right to bond as per article 49 of the Constitution.
"I pray for reasonable bail term with an alternative of a cash bail for my clients," Kagunza told the Eldoret Principle Magistrate Harrison Barasa.
The prosecution and victims lawyers, however, objected the application saying releasing the suspects will endanger the lives of not only her clients but also those of the suspects.
"As much as the suspects have a right to bond, section 49 of the constitution allows bond terms to be delayed if there are compelling reasons which in this case is the fact that my clients are children and article 53 demands that their rights be protected," said Mercy Ruto, victims lawyer.
The Magistrate deferred making a ruling on the application and ordered the prosecution to file an affidavit of the Investigating Officer that will be crucial in making a decision as to whether the suspects will be released or not.