State House Intruder Brian Bera Pleads with President Uhuru to Forgive Him

A Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) student who was arrested after gaining unauthorized access into State House on June 11th has pleaded with President Uhuru to forgive him.

Brian Kibet Bera was shot by security officers manning one of the State House gates after he drew out a kitchen knife when he was ordered to surrender.

The 26-year-old Mechanical Engineering student gained access into State House compound after jumping over the fence.

Bera asked for forgiveness when he was arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday.

Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Francis Andayi, the suspect said he had suffered a lot while in detention.

“I am pleading with President Kenyatta to forgive me. I have suffered a lot while in detention,” Bera said during the court session.

His father, David Bera pleaded with the Magistrate to free Brian on medical grounds, saying that his son was depressed.

“He [Brian Bera] once walked from Kitale [in Trans Nzoia County] to Athi River [in Machakos County],” said David.

Responding to his dad’s statement, Brian noted: “The reason why I walked from Kitale to Athi River is that I wanted to become a fisherman in Mombasa, and I was in the process of that journey when they intercepted me and took me to JKUAT. Their move was akin to meting out punishment on me.”

Magistrate Andayi ordered the suspect to be taken to Mathari Mental Hospital for assessment before he is charged.

He will be remanded at Kilimani Police Station before returning to court on Thursday.

The fifth-year student sustained gunshot wound during the incident at State House and was taken to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where he was admitted until his arraignment on Wednesday.

Bera had previously made a Facebook post saying he wanted to “harm” President Kenyatta for doing nothing to ensure their “grabbed” ancestral land is returned to his family.