A city lawyer has been charged with stealing a motor vehicle valued at Sh300,000.
Reuben Urbanus Kioko was arraigned before Milimani senior principal magistrate Gilbert Shikwe.
Kioko denied the charge filed against him by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Igonga.
The charge against the advocate was drawn by the Officer Commanding Capitol Hill Police Station, Nairobi and taken for authentication to the DPP’s office.
Kioko was arrested on April 30, 2024, and then released on a police cash bail after recording a statement under inquiry.
The Capitol Hill Police Station boss had directed Kioko to appear before the court to take a plea on May 10, 2024, but he was charged on May 16, 2024.
When the advocate appeared before Shikwe, he denied the charge filed against him and then applied to be freed on bond saying the offence against him was bailable.
The accused said he was not a flight risk and that no compelling reasons had been advanced by the state to warrant the court to deny him bail.
He confessed that he cooperated with the police when the investigations were underway and that he would abide by the bond terms that would be imposed by the court.
A prosecuting counsel Ms Judy Koech did not oppose the accused being admitted to bond saying,
“I have no instructions to oppose his release on bond.”
In his bail ruling Mr Shikwe noted that the prosecution was not opposed to the release of the accused on bond.
He said under Article 49 of the Constitution any accused person charged shall be released on bond pending determination of the case against him/her unless there are compelling reasons to deny.
“I have considered the submissions by the accused person and the prosecution’s position of not opposing the release of the accused on bond,” said the magistrate.
He went on to free him on a bond of Sh200,000 with one surety of the same amount or alternative cash bail of Sh100,000.
The magistrate also directed the advocate to be furnished with witness statements within a fortnight to commence preparing for his defence.
Kioko was charged with stealing a motor vehicle, make, Hyundai registration number KAH 113S the property of MUUS Kenya Limited.
The matter will be mentioned in two weeks for pre-trial and directions.