A man who beat his cousin senselessly for allegedly failing to go for circumcision ceremony was on Tuesday arraigned before a Kabarnet court charged with assault and causing actual bodily harm.

Weldon Kechei alias Zephaniah was charged that on December 20, 2020, at around 12 noon at Riong village in Baringo Central Sub County unlawfully beat up Gilbert Kipkurui causing him serious injuries.

The complainant told Resident Magistrate Viennah Amboko the accused beat him up because he had not gone for the circumcision ceremony.

Kipkurui said that on a material day, he was on his way to Kimoso to visit his grandmother when he met the accused in the company of his friend who stopped and slapped him several times.

After slapping him, the complainant told the court, the accused dragged him to a nearby river where he ordered him to remove his clothes, and then he called the friend who came with four canes which they used to brutally beat him before escorting him back home.

The prosecution counsel told the court that according to statements, the accused with the help of the friend beat up the complainant occasioning him actual bodily contrary to section 251 of the penal code.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the offence and was granted Sh 20,000 bond with one surety of same amount or a cash bail of Sh 10,000.

The court heard that the complainant sought treatment on January 4, this year, before reporting the incident to Salawa police post.

The accused’s friend only known as Meshack did not attend the hearing because he was a secondary school student.

The magistrate fixed the hearing of the case on April 8 when witnesses are expected to be in court.

KNA by Joshua Kibet