Six Azimio MPs arrested during Monday protests charged

Six Azimio leaders who were arrested on Monday for allegedly participating in unlawful demonstration have been charged before a Kahawa Law Court.
The accused, Ugunja MP James Opiyo Wandayi, Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, Richard Chonga (Kilifi South MP), Amina Laura Mnyazi (Malindi), George Yogo Obure and Esther Oromi are accused that jointly with others not before the court, took part in an unlawful assembly.
They are alleged to have committed the offence on March 20 at around 10 am along City Hall way, Nairobi.

They face a second count of maliciously damaging property. 
The charge sheet states that on the same dates and place, jointly with others not in court, willfully and unlawfully destroyed a motor vehicle Volkswagen Passat valued at Sh1.1 million belonging to Joyce Nyambura.

The six appeared before Principal Magistrate Gideon Oenga and denied the charges.
Through their lawyers led by Peter Kaluma, Dan Maanzo,  Danstan Omari, and Sam Nyaberi among others they asked the court to release the suspects on lenient bond terms of Sh50,000.

The four suspects are Members of Parliament and the Senate and two are MCAs.

Lawyer Kaluma argued that Wandayi is a Minority leader in the Parliament and is the 5th person in the structure of government.
He said Wandayi conducts the Parliament business and he has to be in Parliament today (Thursday).

He should not miss the sitting as it is very crucial for his position.
“We pray that the prosecution should not be opposed and the process to have them released should be hastened”, Kaluma told the court.
The court was told the six had been released on Sh50,000 bond terms.
Omari said the leaders are poor and all they have is for the citizens.
He said police had released them on bail because they knew they are not a flight risk. They are leaders.

“We are seeking their release on a personal bond.  Court to consider what is on the ground. There is political heat and let’s not escalate it. Release them on 50,000 bail,” Omari told the court