•The cases facing the Politicians who appeared in court this year are still pending determination.
•Their cases range from corruption, unlawful assembly, fraud and murder.
Image: FILE
Mass protests announced by Azimio Chief Raila Odinga early this year to protest over the high cost of living came at a price.
Several top Azimio politicians were arrested and charged in court over the demonstrations.
Azimio leaders in court
It all started with six Azimio leaders who were arrested on March 23, for allegedly participating in an unlawful demonstration.
The six were Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, Richard Chonga (Kilifi South MP), Amina Mnyazi (Malindi), George Yogo Obure and Esther Oromi. They were charged at Kahawa Law Court.
They are alleged to have committed the offence on March 20 at around 10 am along City Hall way, Nairobi
Then came the arraignment of Embakasi East Babu Owino on July 20, over charges of conspiracy to commit chaos or subversive activities.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, subversiveness is a behaviour or activity that tries to destroy or damage something, especially an established political system.
Six Azimio leaders who were arrested on Monday for allegedly participating in unlawful demonstration have been charged before a Kahawa Law Court.
Babu was charged alongside self-styled ghetto president Calvin Gaucho, Eric Theuri, Tom Odongo, Michael Otieno, Pascal Ouma, Kelvin Wambo, and Willy Owino. The case is still pending in court.
The arraignment of Mathare MP Anthony Olouch, Makongeni MCA Peter Imwatok and Kitusuru MCA Alvin Orlando appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina.
They were represented by a battery of 20 Lawyers led by LSK President Eric Theuri.
However, they all denied that with others not before the court, they mobilised and incited the public to commit subversive activities by demonstrating
Olouch and Imwatok were released on Sh100,000 cash bail while Olando was released on Sh70,000 cash bail. All these matters are pending in court.
Former Lamu senator
In November, former Lamu Senator Anwar Loitiptip was arraigned and charged with Sh6 million motor vehicle fraud.
In the first count, Loitiptip was accused that on August 3, 2022, at an unknown place within the country, without lawful authority or excuse, made a motor vehicle registration certificate purporting it to be a genuine certificate issued by the National Transport and Safety Authority.
He faced another count of fraudulently uttering to Samson Malonza a forged motor vehicle certificate for a motor vehicle registration number on the same dates and place.
The court heard Loitiptip also fraudulently obtained from Samson Malonza a total sum of Sh6 million by falsely pretending that he was in a position to sell to him a land cruiser V8 a fact he knew to be false.
He allegedly committed the offence on August 3, 2022, in the Kileleshwa area in Kilimani. He denied the charges and is out on a cash bail of Sh700,000
Ex-governor Obado
Another politician who had cases in court this year was former Migori Governor Okoth Obado.
He is still being tried over the murder of university student Sharon Otieno and her unborn baby.
Kidero and Waititu graft cases pending
Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and Mike Sonko also had their graft-related cases heard this year.
Kidero is faced with two cases one involving Sh213 million and the other Sh58 million.
In the Sh213 million, Kidero has been charged together with former chief officers in his administration with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, namely fraud leading to the loss of Sh213,327,300 public funds for services not rendered.
Other charges include conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public property, dealing with suspect property and unlawful failure to pay tax to a public body.
The case is at its tail end with the Investigating officer's testimony yet to be taken in full.
It's also being handled by a new Magistrate following the transfer of Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti who was seized of the matter.
Former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu's Sh588 million graft case remains pending.
He was, however, found to have a case to answer and is at the stage of defending himself over the accusations levelled against him.
Waititu, his wife Susan Wangari and 11 others are facing trial over the irregular award of a Sh588,198,328.20 road tender in Kiambu County.
Oscar Sudi
Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi also had his days in court this year. He is facing charges of faking his academic certificates. The matter is at its tail end.
The investigating officer in June this year narrated how Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi forged his academic certificates so that he could secure the nomination to vie for the parliamentary seat in the 2013 General Elections.