Maandamano! Dennis Itumbi skips court session, says life is in danger
Controversial blogger Dennis Itumbi has told court his life is in danger.
Itumbi, who was recently nominated as ICT Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) by President William Ruto, skipped court attendance on March 20, 2023, claiming he had been adversely mentioned by Azimio leader Raila Odinga in relation to the ongoing demonstrations in the country.
Lawyer Katwa Kigen who is defending Itumbi in the case in which he is accused of forging a letter alleging former top government officials wanted to kill the then Deputy President William Ruto who is now Kenya’s fifth President told Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi that Itumbi was apprehensive following intelligence reports relayed to him by security agents.
“My client is not in court. Itumbi’s name was mentioned by the principal planner of the demonstrations and he was advised to stay away from the city during the period for his own security,” Kigen told Shitubi.
As a result, the lawyer sought to have the matter taken out from the hearing list for another date.
The prosecution did not oppose the request to have the case adjourned.
The case was moved to June 7, 2023.
In the case several politicians among them five former senators, three Cabinet Secretaries, current 14 MPs, five former MPs, and five parastatals officials who reportedly attended the meeting at the La Mada hotel are expected to testify in the case.
The CCTV of La Mada Hotel was also expected to be played in court to show those who attended the meeting.
In the case, Itumbi was found with a case to answer together with his co-accused person Samwel Gateri in September 2021.
According to the charge sheet, the two, on or before June 20, 2019, published a letter dated May 30, 2019, with the intent to cause anxiety to the general public.
Itumbi is charged with making a false document without authority and publishing a false statement.
The prosecution claims he uttered the said letter dated May 30, 2019, purporting it to be a genuine document made by a cabinet secretary a fact he knew to be false.
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