MP Silvanus Osoro charged over Kiamokama by-election chaos
South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro appears before Chief Magistrate Nathan Lutha Shiundu on March 8, 2021, in a case about malicious damage to property.
What you need to know:
- The MP was arrested and arraigned after presenting himself to police officers at the Kisii headquarters of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
South Mugirango member of Parliament Silvanus Osoro was charged at a Kisii court on Monday with malicious damage to property during the March 4 by-election in Kiamokama Ward.
The MP was arrested and arraigned after presenting himself to police officers at Kisii Central Police Station.
Sources indicated that police had been searching for the lawmaker over alleged violence and voter bribery in the Kiamokama by-election held last Thursday.
Mr Osoro was accompanied by Kandara MP Alice Wahome, Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei and Bureti MP Japheth Mutai, all of them lawyers.
He said he presented himself to the DCI after receiving reports that he was being sought by police.
"My vehicle was impounded on Friday. My driver, bodyguard and constituency manager were arrested. I am here to demand the release of my vehicle," the MP said at the police station.
What happened
Mr Osoro was in Kiamokama that day, campaigning for United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Moses Nyandusi Nyakeramba.
He was also with Mr Nyakeramba at Ogembo Police Station where he (Mr Nyakeramba) and other UDA candidates were taken after being arrested.
But police sources revealed the MP was in his vehicle when his team was arrested on Friday, but managed to escape on foot, leaving his phone behind.
"He has been in hiding since Thursday. His bodyguard was disarmed after being arrested, " said a source privy to the investigations.
Mr Nyakeramba lost in the mini-poll, only managing position six out of the 11 candidates.
Malack Mainya Matara of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) won after garnering 1,907 votes.
The charges
Later on Monday, Mr Osoro was charged at the Kisii Law Courts before Chief Magistrate Nathan Lutha Shiundu.
The charge sheet states that at Kiamokama location within Masaba South Sub-county in Kisii on March 4, he and others "willfully and unlawfully damaged" a Toyota Sienta, registration KCZ 373 W.
"He damaged the windscreen, windows and the doors valued at Sh200, 000, the property of Peter Karanja Njuguna."
The lawmaker pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Release terms
Defence lawyers led by MP Wahome asked the magistrate to expedite the case, saying the environment in which their colleague was charged was “toxic”.
“Members of the public are outside court. WWe thank the DCI for handling our client well," she said.
Mr Wilikins Achoki pleaded with the magistrate for Mr Osoro’s release, saying he is not a flight risk.
But the prosecution opposed the application for his release on a free bond, saying a surety was needed to bind the accused to the court, pending conclusion of the case.
Mr Osoro was released on a bond of Sh100, 000, with a surety of the same amount, or a cash bail of Sh50,000 in the case that will be mentioned on March 22.
Politics
Mr Osoro addressed Kisii Town residents immediately after he was released, saying he will not allow the State to silence him politically.
He vowed to vigorously campaign for Deputy President William Ruto in Gusiiland despite what he termed persecution for his affiliation with Jubilee Party’s Tangatanga faction.
Ms Wahome and Shollei condemned the intimidation of elected leaders because of their political affiliations.
They said it is wrong for police to follow orders blindly and fail to adhere to the law, and vowed to legally challenge the State what they said was the misuse of police by unnamed persons.
