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Raila demands release of Moses Kuria and seven other detained MPs


Cord leader Raila Odinga has demanded the release of the six MPs held at Pangani police station within the next 24 hours failing which he warned that there would be consequences.

Mr Odinga said Cord will would a comprehensive statement later in the afternoon specifying the “consequences”.

The Cord leader made the threats outside Pangani police station where he had gone to visit three MPs Cord MPs who are in custody alongside three others from Jubilee.

HATE SPEECH CHARGES

Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama (Cord), MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South, Jubilee) Junet Mohammed (Suna East, Cord), Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete, Jubilee), Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba, Cord) and Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati, Jubilee) are being held at Pangani Police Station over hate speech charges.

Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi women rep, Cord) and Florence Mutua (Busia women rep, Cord) are held at Muthaiga police station.

By demanding a blanket release of all the six MPs, the Cord leader departs from an earlier position where the opposition had demanded for a release of just the five Cord MPs.

It is also important to note that Mr Kuria is in custody for remarks he made implying that someone could kill the former Prime Minister and blame it on him.

Mr Odinga accompanied by Cord principals Moses Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho later visited the two female MPs at Muthaiga where they were allowed to meet them at the OCS’s office.

Meanwhile, trial Court is right to deny eight legislators bail, High Court has ruled.

SERIOUS CHARGES

In his ruling stating reasons why he dismissed the application to be released on bail pending their trial on Friday, Justice Joseph Onguto says their charges are regarded as very serious.

He also has said that since both lawyer’s for the legislators and the state have admitted before him that they detainees conditions were looked after their plight was told to the Court on Wednesday , it would be right for them to appeal for their release to the trial court that orders for their detention to be lifted.

At the same time, lawyers John Khaminwa and Harun Ndumbi have pleaded with the judge over their release.
They told court that the conditions in cells is deplorable and that some of them who takes regular medication have been subjected to inhumane treatment.

But the judge declined to issue any orders regarding their requests saying that he was only required to give his reasons for dismissing their application before delivering this ruling.