BY IRENE ONYANGO.
Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch and two MCAs have been charged with mobilizing members of public to commit subversive activities.
Oluoch was charged together with Makongeni MCA Peter Imwatok Jateso and his Kitisuru counterpart Alvin Olando Palapala.
They denied the charge when they were presented before a magistrate.
The charge sheet stated that they incited and mobilized members of the public to commit subversive activities.
The court heard that they committed the offence jointly with others not before court by urging people to cause disobedience to the lawful authority, on July 6, 2023 and July 19, 2023 in Nairobi County.
The charge against Imwatok stated that he incited and mobilized members of the public to commit subversive activities on July 12, 2023, between 10 am and 6pm in Nairobi within Nairobi County.
The accused persons were arrested on July 21, when Azimio la Umoja coalition called for demonstrations to protest against the rising cost of living.
Law Society of Kenya led by its president Erick Theuri pleaded with the court to stop the police from re-arresting the accused persons and if they are required for questioning, they should be notified to attend court or a police station in the company of their lawyers.
He further told the court that the LSK that both the MP and MCA are public figures and there’s nothing that would bar them from attending court’s proceedings.
Theuri also told the court to let the bond terms given to the accused extend to any other charges that the prosecution might prefer on them or even in case of re arresting.
Oluoch and Imwatok were released on a cash bail of Sh 100,000 each and Palapala on a Sh 70,000 cash bail.
