A Chuka court in Tharaka Nithi County has fined a motorist Sh130,000 or in default serve three-month imprisonment for the offense of knocking down a journalist with a vehicle and breaking his leg.
The KXG 377 pick-up vehicle hit-and-run incident happened along Kibumbu-Mt Kenya Forest road in Chuka town on June 2, 2016.
Before Senior Resident Magistrate Mwanamkuu Sudi, the motorist; Mr Edwin Gitonga was charged with reckless driving that also left Mr Kevin Ngai with a twisted neck and soft tissue injuries.
Following the accident, the journalist was admitted at PCEA Chogoria Hospital for one month and later put under house rest for more months.
During the hearing, four eye-witnesses narrated how the reckless driver hit the journalist and fled towards Mt Kenya Forest direction.
The court found that after committing the crime, Mr Gitonga rushed and concealed the vehicle in a maize plantation where police officers investigating the incident found it two days later.
During the incident, Mr Ngai, who currently work for Tharaka Nithi Senator Prof Kithure Kindiki as the communication officer worked for The Standard News Paper as a correspondent in Tharaka Nithi County.
Mr Gitonga has 14 days to challenge the ruling if not satisfied.
