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A student at Egerton University Njoro raises a candle in an event to remember the Garissa terror attack victims. A man suspected of spreading a terror message targeting the institution was arraigned in court on Friday. Photo/Kioko.

A man suspected of spreading an alarming terror message targeting Egerton University students was arraigned in a Nakuru court today, Friday April 10. Robert Mungai Kariuki alias Robert Mohammed Bluez appeared before Chief Magistrate Samuel Mungai and charged with the offense that he allegedly committed on April 4. He was arrested on April 8.

The message which was shared through his Facebook account and posted on Egerton Campus Life, a Facebook page, stated that the campus would be raided by Al-Shabaab who would commit a more serious attack as compared to the Garissa one. To do so the message claimed that the Al-Shabaab terror group had information on the network of the University.

The Magistrate directed that the accused be remanded at the Njoro police station for 7 days as investigations on the issue are concluded and information handed to the defense. This was after the Prosecutor Samuel Wambua asked for 10 days for the same, an application that was opposed by the defense council David Mong’eri.

Mong’eri wanted the accused released on bond arguing that since his arrest he had been denied his right of being presented in court within 24 hours.

“The offense is bailable. He can be reporting to the police station. We are asking for the statements and exhibits,” said Mong’eri.

Mong’eri claimed that his client had been harassed and beaten by the police but the Prosecutor opposed by saying the accused had not reported to him such claims.

“We admit that the offense is bailable but once investigations are done the defense will be supplied with the statements,” said Wambua.

The mention date for the case was set for April 16.

Meanwhile the Nakuru Deputy Governor Joseph Ruto on Friday asked Kenyans to remain united even in the wake of the attack that claimed at least 147 lives.

“Let us not allow such acts of terrorism divide us on religious grounds,” observed Ruto during a forum to discuss successes of devolution in the county.

On Wednesday, students and staff of Egerton University also expressed similar sentiments during an interdenominational prayer service held at the institution’s Njoro campus.Candle 1

“We ask God to punish the terrorists,” said one students in a prayer in the service that saw lighting of candles in memory of the Garissa victims.

The Thursday morning raid at the Garissa University targeted students, some who were found praying, at a time when the world was getting ready for Good Friday and Easter celebrations this year.

The head of the Catholic Church in the world Pope Francis has since described those who died in the attack as modern day martyrs.