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| Korogocho MCA Absalom Odhiambo. |
Absalom Odhiambo, the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Korogocho, was taken into custody on Monday, January 31, and charged in court the following day, on Tuesday.
It is claimed that the MCA made statements that, in the opinion of the police, "are likely to provoke unrest or undermine the nation."
During a protest for Azimio la Umoja that took place on the Kamukunji grounds on January 23, according to the police, Odhiambo allegedly made comments that may be construed as encouraging violence.
In order for the Director of Criminal Investigation to be able to finish their investigations into the case, the court has been requested to allow them permission to keep the MCA for a period of seven days.
According to what was said in court, "The applicant's advanced inquiries have shown that the respondent is a chronic character who seeks to make devastation of the nation via the following he has both from public address and social media."
The DCI asserts that they need seven days in order to collect any potentially inciting texts from the defendant's phone and record statements for the state in order to bolster the evidence supporting the prosecution. In addition, it was brought to the court's attention that he poses a flight risk.
According to what is said in the application, "the investigator has provided a prediction that it will take seven days to complete investigations and transmit the investigation file to the ODPP for a decision to charge."
On the other hand, Odhiambo's defense lawyers, led by Danstan Omari, vehemently objected to the request, arguing that their client is not a flight risk and that his prosecution is motivated by politics.
"This is a decent family guy, and the regime that puts our client before you has said that they would not use the police to harass people... we encourage this court to be impartial and fair, and we ask that it not be used as an entrance point for political arrests."
The defense argued that there are no legitimate reasons to keep the MCA for seven days, let alone a single day.Even just one day would be unreasonable.
Azimio MCAs in Nairobi claim that the government is working on the "carry your own cross" slogan to vindicate popular cronies.
The police will continue to hold the Korogocho MCA in custody.
Imagine if Raila Odinga was a president?! This Korogocho MCA Absalom Onyango could be urinating everywhere insulting and beating everyone. pic.twitter.com/XxU3eluSkV
— Dan Nyagah (@dan_nyagah) February 1, 2023
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