Two nurses, Jonah Kipsiror and Ephraim Mwaura, were charged before Milimani Chief Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi with six counts of causing grievous harm and operating a private pharmacy without a license.

They are accused of pouring acid on three officers—Tom Mbuku, Joyce Otieno, and Moses Leilei—who had raided their facility, Ngara Road Medical Centre, during a crackdown on unregistered clinics.

The raid targeted the clinic for allegedly procuring illegal abortions. During the operation, the nurses reportedly attacked the officers with acid, an offense that carries a potential life sentence upon conviction.

The injured officers, suffering severe chemical burns on their faces, hands, and lower limbs, were admitted to the High Dependency Unit at a city hospital.

According to the investigating officer, Deten Saidimu, the officers knocked on the clinic’s door, and Kipsiror allegedly appeared and splashed acid on them without hesitation. The officers raised an alarm, prompting reinforcements from their colleagues at Pangani Police Station, who rushed to the scene and arrested the nurses.

The court also heard that officers recovered assorted items from the clinic, including substances resembling human organs, which have been forwarded to the government chemist for analysis.

Kipsiror and Mwaura face additional charges of operating a private pharmacy and clinic illegally and being in possession of suspected poison. They have been in custody since November 25th.

Both denied the charges and applied for release on lenient bond terms or cash bail.

In his ruling, Magistrate Ekhubi set Kipsiror’s bond at KSh600,000 with one surety of a similar amount, while Mwaura was freed on a bond of KSh300,000 or an alternative cash bail of KSh200,000.

The case is scheduled for mention on January 20, 2025.