BY IRENE ONYANGO.

A bodyguard to former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has been charged before a Kibera court with giving false information to a police officer.

Koffi Bill Atinda was presented before court alongside Kennedy Otieno Omwanda, Kennedy Otieno Odhiambo and Aziz Ali Keeyokia and denied several counts.

It is alleged that Atinda informed two police officers on May 15, 2024 that he was an officer of the rank of a Captain in the Kenya Defense Forces.

The court heard that he committed the offence along Narayan road in Parklands area, after being stopped at an official Police Road Block, by inspectors Onesmus Mutua and Yusuf Naiwet.

The charge sheet stated that Atinda gave the false information in order to prompt the traffic police officers from arresting him as well as conducting a search on the motor vehicle he was driving.

He’s also charged that on 16th May this year, at Traffic Nairobi area Police yard, without lawful authority or excuse, had in his possession two papers intended to resemble and pass as 200 US dollars serial number LB29632956X and 13 black unmarked papers knowing them to be forged.

Atinda was also charged with forging registration certificate documents, a contractor annual practicing license, among other documents.

Odhiambo denied charges of possession of public stores namely, three tear gas canisters, belonging to Kenya Prison Service. The prosecution alleged that the teargas canisters are suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained. The charge sheet stated that he committed the offence on May 16, at Jamhuri area in Nairobi County.

On his part, Omwanda was accused of possession public radio call make Motorola, the property of the National Police Service, which is reasonably suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

Keeyokia’s charges stated that he willfully neglected to surrender 14 blanks of ammunition to armory, being a police officer as required under the National Police Service Act. It is alleged that he failed to perform as required on May 17 at Kizito area in Mwihoko in Kiambu County.

The prosecution opposed the release of the accused persons on bond but defense counsel Francis Kalwa submitted that the grounds submitted by the prosecutor were based on speculation.

Kalwa told the court that one of the accused person is a police officers and his residence and place of work is known to the government.

He further submitted that none of the accused persons was likely to interfere with witnesses who happen to be police officers unless police officers lack trust from each other and feel intimidated.

The lawyer added that the accused persons have been cooperating with the investigating officers and have no reason to be denied bail.

Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki will rule on the application on May 22.