A senior manager at the Geothermal Development Company was on Tuesday charged with threatening to kill an editor of a local newspaper for publishing stories on alleged unprofessional conduct at the firm.
Deputy Corporate Manager Eric Wamanji Ndung’u was accused of sending a threatening SMS to The Star Editor Charles Kerich on February 11 at Ring Road, Westlands, in Nairobi.
According to the prosecution, the message read: "It is high time you stop publishing those stupid GDC stories or we silence you once and for all in our own way. Kwani Simiyu ate your mother’s money (sic). He is in power to stay, he has all the blessings from the house on the hill and you will never fight him even with a million stories."
A Nairobi court was told the message was sent from phone number 0734104499, which the prosecutors say is registered in the suspect's name.
Mr Ndung'u was also charged with improper use of a licensed telecommunication system.
The prosecution said he used his mobile phone to send “grossly offensive messages contrary to section 29(a) of the Kenya information and communication act".
He denied both charges and was released on a Sh100,000 cash bail or a Sh200,000 bond.
He faces a 15 year jail term if he is convicted.
Mr Ndung'u is represented by a team of lawyers led by Mr Cliff Ombeta.
The court directed that the defence team be supplied with copies of witness statements and any other documentary evidence that the prosecution will rely on during the trial.
The case will be mentioned on March 16 and a hearing has been set for April 28.
Mr Kerich is listed as the first prosecution witness.
Police constables Richard Kibet and Nicholas Kisavi of the cybercrime unit are also listed as witnesses.
Police arrested Mr Ndung'u at the GDC offices on March 2 after he failed to honour their summons.http://www.nation.co.ke/
