‘Inspekta Mwala’ Fined Ksh 30,000 After Killing Pedestrian: Is the Law Failing Victims?

Davis Mwabili alias Inspector Mwala was yesterday, 19th September 2019, found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

Mwabili who plays the character Inspekta Mwala in the local program that airs on Citizen Television is also a radio host at Radio Citizen as an employee of the Royal Media Services.

Mwabili who was found guilty of causing the death of 35-year-old Samwel Mwaki was sentenced to one year in jail or the fine of 30,000 shillings which he readily paid.

Mwala caused the accident that killed Mr. Mwaki on the 26th of August 2019 leaving his family shocked and devastated by the loss of their son.

Mwala, according to police officers, was drunk at the time of the accident when he was driving from Mazeras to Kaloleni in Kilifi County at 11 pm.

Mwala was freed on a 40,000 shillings police bond while pending his trial during which he has been found guilty, and could see him refunded 10,000 shillings.

Mwala was in the process of overtaking an oncoming vehicle when he hit Mwaki, a pedestrian, killing him instantly.

Mwala, according to the police, drove the vehicle for about 100 meters, dragging Mwaki which crushed his skull, hands, and legs before the actor’s car came to a stop.

Mwala was surrounded by an angry crowd that included bodaboda riders who sought to lynch him but was quickly rescued by police officers who fired into the air to disperse the mob.

Mwala’s car was thoroughly destroyed and his car battery stolen by the time police officers booked him at Rabai police station.

The body of Mwaki, the passenger Mwala hit dead while dangerously driving was moved the Coast General Hospital Mortuary.

Upon paying the 30,000 shillings fine, as ordered by the Magistrate, Mwala took to social media where he penned an apology post to the family of the Late Samuel Mwaki.

“I attended court earlier today and paid the fine as ordered by the Magistrate. I am very sorry. I also ask for forgiveness from the family of the deceased,” Mwala posted.

Mwala noted that he was “sorry to Mangi’s family for ending the life of their son through an accident”.

“I had no intention to kill, save that an accident occurred and I cannot have left where I was to go and cause the accident,” Mwala concluded.

Jaguar Fined 40,000 Shillings for Killing Two People through Dangerous Driving

In March 21^st, 2017, Musician and Starehe Member of Parliament Charles Njagua, alias Jaguar, caused the death of two people at Makutano along the Nyeri-Nairobi Highway near Sagana.

On 21^st February 2019, Jaguar was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and was fined 40,000 shillings or an imprisonment of six months; he easily paid the fine and returned to his campaigns.

Jaguar hit a boda boda rider who had a passenger killing them instantly. Details of the case remained a secret and it is only when Jaguar was later charged with spreading xenophobia that a prosecutor revealed.

Jaguar killed Mugo Mwangi and Joseph Kairia who he hit with his Range Sports Utility Vehicle and even denied the accident while speaking to the media which left behind a pained bitter family.

Jaguar was barred from driving for six months, a rule he could easily do with as he could afford a driver.

Is the Law Encouraging Dangerous Driving?

This is the one question that lingers when one sees the culprits slapped on the wrist while the victims lay in their graves with the role they played in their families left inconsiderately.

When a person sits behind a wheel yet they are intoxicated, then they ought to be responsible for their actions as they pose a danger not just to themselves but to other road users.

The Kenyan law seems to have been crafted by people who were very lenient on dangerous driving which is mostly as a result of drunk driving; the law protects the culprit instead of the victim.

When celebrities lead the way in drunk driving which endangers the lives of other road users and are slapped with pocket change fines, then the precedent sent is wrong in all ways.

May the soul of Samuel Mwaki, killed through dangerous driving by David Mwabili alias Mwala and the soul of Mugo Mwangi and Joseph Kairia killed through dangerous driving by Starehe MP Rest in peace.