Journalists briefly kicked out of MP's assault case
Journalist covering the trial of Wajir East MP Rashid Kassim, who is accused of assaulting Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Gedi, were on Tuesday briefly kicked out of the courtroom by a magistrate citing Covid-19 guidelines.
Principal Magistrate Marth Nanzushi directed police orderlies to eject journalists from the courtroom alongside relatives and members of the public who had accompanied the lawmakers.
“I need only 15 people in this court. Members of the press, chose among yourselves who to cover this case,” Ms Nanzushi said.
She further said that the new coronavirus is real and that she does not want many people in the courtroom against the advice given by the Ministry of Health.
“We must observe the Covid-19 guidelines. I must have a limited number of people in my court under the rules and if need be it’s the accused, the complainant, the witnesses, the prosecutor and the counsel watching brief for the complainant who will remain in the chambers,” Ms Nanzushi said.
This is not the first time the magistrate has thrown the media out of her court.
On Tuesday, the court journalists were adamant to heed the quit order until police moved in to execute the magistrates’ direction using force.
The journalist gathered outside the courtroom and after a few minutes, the magistrates allowed them to cover the trial.
Testifying in the case, Homa Bay County Woman Representative Gladys Wanga gave a detailed narrative of how she saved Ms Gedi from further assault by Mr Kassim.
Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga (right) in court. She is a witness in the case.
Ms Wanga testified that she heard Ms Gedi scream then saw Mr Kassim slap her.
She said she saw Ms Gedi bleeding from her mouth.
Ms Wanga said Ms Gedi, Mr Kassim and the Wajir West MP Ahmed Kolosh were together at the Parliament parking yard when the incident occurred.
She said the three were talking in Somali so “she did not understand the details of their talk but all she remembers is that she heard Ms Gedi scream and saw Mr Kassim slapping her.”
Ms Wanga told the court that she accompanied Ms Gedi to the sergeant-at-arms, who advised them to report to the police.
“We reported the incident to the police then I took her to the Karen Hospital where she was treated then advised to see the police doctor to fill for her a P-3 form,” Ms Wanga recalled.
The MP said Ms Gedi was attacked on June 13, 2019 at around 8am.
When cross-examined by lawyer Samson Nyaberi, Ms Wanga said her colleague bled from her mouth but did not witness any other physical injury.
In her testimony, Ms Gedi said that Mr Kassim was accusing her of failing to push for more allocation in the road projects in the budgetary kitty for Wajir County.
The magistrate heard that Mr Kassim was later arrested and taken to Central Police Station where he was detained and later charged in court.
Mr Kassim has denied assaulting Ms Gedi and causing her bodily harm.
Wajir East Rashid Kassim in the dock on November 3, 2020.
He is out on bond.
Hearing of the case continues on December 8.
