This archive report was first published on 10 December 2019.
On November 30, 2019, James Gitonga Kariuki, a 26-year-old man, was charged with maliciously damaging his father's property at Rukira village in Gaturi South Location.
According to the charge sheet, Kariuki damaged items including a mirror, water tap, and property worth Ksh. 3,600.
However, Kariuki denied the offense, and it was at this point that his mother, Mary Kariuki, raised her hand from the public gallery.
She pleaded with the court to help her have her son examined by a psychiatrist, citing that he had been behaving weirdly for some time and suspected that he had had a mental breakdown.
Senior Principal Magistrate Henry Nyakweba, however, faulted Mary, saying they should not have waited until their son was charged in court to seek help, which amounts to abdicating parental responsibility.
Despite this, the court directed that Kariuki be presented at Embu Level Five Hospital and examined by a psychiatrist in the company of an investigating officer and his parents.
He will remain in custody at Itabua Police Station and be taken back to court on December 13, 2019.
