BY IRENE ONYANGO.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei will remain in custody until Monday 25 after he was detained for skipping court hearing.
The young senator was arrested after showing up in court with plans to ask for the trial magistrate to lift a warrant for his arrest.
Cherargei claimed he failed to attend his trial because wanted the Magistrate to lift the warrant on grounds that he was unwell.
Trial magistrate Wendy Micheni was not sitting and the file was placed before senior principal magistrate Esther Kimilu who directed the case to be mentioned on Monday.
Cherargei further said one of his lawyers had informed him not to attend court on April 19, 2022.
The senator added that he also fell ill on April 17 and was treated as St Lukes Hospital in Eldoret and was put on bedrest for seven days.
However, according to the court, the medical document he produced in court was not clear.
The prosecution opposed the application saying the defense wanted to delay the case.
According to prosecutor Alexander Muteti, the accusef failed to attend court without giving an explanation.
“We have witnesses who were brought to court under arrest. They were with me in court on 19th before Honorable Micheni until 11.30 am,” prosecutor Muteti submitted.
He said that time was wasted since there was no appearance by the accused person nor his counsel.
The Magistrate directed that Cherargei remains in custody until Monday when the trial court will resume.
He will be detained at Gigiri police station.
Cherargei faces charges of ethnic contempt.
The first time senator was arrested in 2019 over utterances he made at a public function.
