Kenyans react to Pastor James Ng'ang'a's acquittal

Kenyans were left seething with anger after a Limuru court acquitted flamboyant televangelist James Ng’ang’a of charges of killing a woman by reckless driving three years ago.

Using the hashtag #JusticeforMercyNjeri, Kenyans on Twitter on Tuesday called out the seemingly broken justice system in the country and expressed their disappointment at what termed "failure to deliver justice".

PROSECUTION

The prosecution was particularly put on the spot for the way it handled the case of the late Mercy Njeri against the head of Neno Evangelism Centre in Nairobi.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Godfrey Oduor, who has since been transferred to Nakuru, cited inconsistencies by key prosecution witnesses in the case.

He said the prosecution witnesses, presented to the court by the police, failed to place Mr Ng’ang’a at the scene of the crash and, therefore, it could not be proved that he was driving the Range Rover when the collision happened.

“Judges don't investigate. Before yelling #JusticeForMercyNjeri I invite you to deal with prosecutors first. Thence would you know where and when a case is really lost.”

Kenya Police, who oftentimes act as both investigators and prosecutors, have been cited as a major challenge to justice system in Kenya.

The force, which has been topping Transparency International’s corruption perception indexes for more than four years running, stands accused of helping accused persons go scot-free.

Police prosecutors stand accused of taking bribes, tampering with and destroying evidence and hiding or tampering with witnesses.

Some Kenyans directed their anger at Chief Justice David Maraga, whom they accused of turning a blind eye on the happenings in the courts.

MARAGA

“Maraga is the head of courts where bribery is the order of the day. He should take responsibility,” Dantorish posted.

“What kind of evidence do Kenyan courts need the woman died as a result of that Ng’ang’a and we all saw it in the news,” protested Revil Thanos.

Others just painted a picture of the kind of lifestyles that the clergy in the country are wont to have, some on the bended backs of their poor and gullible flocks.

“It’s only in Kenya where pastors can touch women inappropriately, drink and drive, kill innocent souls and walk away free, divorce and remarry, buy expensive cars from our offerings and lie to us that if u don't give you will not be blessed,” Kelvin Kev observed.

Paul Njogu pointed out that: “It is high time we realize that foreign religions have created monsters among men who hide in the robe. African traditional religions had respect for human life and there was no impunity, bribery, bias and no one escaped justice.”

Yet others blamed Kenyans for worshipping in churches headed by controversial pastors.

“Ng’ang’a… walks scot free as if nothing happened, his church is still full of gullible Kenyans. What an irony!! There is no justice for the poor in our corrupt courts,” C Philip tweeted.