Raila demands charges against six Azimio leaders dropped

Says the leaders were charged with false allegations.

In Summary
  • Raila said the leaders were arrested unlawfully and subsequently charged with false allegations.
  • "We demand that the charges be dropped unconditionally with immediate effect," he said. 
ODM Party leader Raila Odinga.
ODM Party leader Raila Odinga.
Image: FILE

Opposition chief Raila Odinga has demanded that the charges levelled against six Azimio leaders be dropped unconditionally, with immediate effect.

The six include Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, Richard Chonga (Kilifi South MP), Amina Mnyazi (Malindi), George Yogo Obure and Esther Oromi.

Raila said the leaders were arrested unlawfully and subsequently charged with false allegations.

He spoke during a press conference on Thursday. 

"We demand that the charges be dropped unconditionally with immediate effect," he said. 

Appearing before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kahawa Law Courts on Thursday, the six were charged with taking part in an unlawful assembly and malicious damage of property. 

This is during the Azimio mass action on Monday, March 20.

The leaders were arrested while leading demonstrations at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). 

They were kept at Kiambu Police Station until late evening on Monday when they were released, on Sh50,000 bond terms.

Appearing before the court earlier, while agreeing with the bond submission by the defendants, the Prosecution said the earlier cash bail given by police has now ceased.

It urged the Court to consider and have in place bail and bond guidelines.

The leaders were released on a cash bail of Sh50,000 or a bond of Sh300,000 each.

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