A Mombasa caught sentenced Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi to four years imprisonment after he was found guilty of assaulting two police officers during ODM party primaries in April 2017.
Mwinyi, who was convicted on Thursday, had been charged with 11 counts. Two were dismissed for lack of evidence. Mombasa chief magistrate Evans Makori said the assault charges were proven beyond reasonable doubt.
Makori said it was proved that Mwinyi was largely involved in the attacks on the officers by his supporters. The chief magistrate said the MP failed to control his rowdy supporters who caused the officers severe injuries.
“Having carefully considered the evidence by the prosecution, I find the accused guilty as charged.
“It is clear the accused failed to restrain or stop his supporters from disrupting the polls therefore he is deemed to have participated in the fracas,” he said.
Chief Magistrate Makori added that the medical report showed that the police officers were badly injured during the attack.
“The case has been proven reasonable doubt. I therefore convict the accused,” he ruled. The officers were providing security to voters and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials.
But Kenyans view the judgment as too lenient, saying the MP will pay the 1 million fine since he can afford it and avoid the jail term.
“I will bet 1M that he will pay the 1 Million. And it will be at the cost of one less classroom!” said Ahmed Mohammed on twitter, referring to the habit of Kenyan politicians misusing public funds.
Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi Sentenced to 4 years in Prison or an alternative of paying Kshs 1M for assaulting 2 police Officers during the ODM Party Primaries in April 2017.
I will bet 1M that he will pay the 1 Million.
And it will be at the cost of one less classroom!
???
— Ahmed Mohamed (@Asmali77) August 2, 2018
Another Kenyan said the judgment was a mockery to upright thinking Kenyans. ‘So what is 1M for a sitting MP? Instead of fining these people with reasonable sentences you choose to mock the intelligence of upright, moral and law abiding citzens who are out here in their millions?’
“Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi” So what is 1M for a sitting MP? Instead of fining these people with reasonable sentences you choose to mock the intelligence of upright, moral and law abiding citzens who are out here in their millions?
— Pat_Riot (@CareyF_) August 2, 2018
While, yet another one chose to bring the recent issue of the judiciary being underfunded. He said they don’t deserve more money since they’re making comedy decisions. “From Changamwe Mp Omar Mwinyi ruling I can say that Maraga and his judiciary deserve further budget deduction.
Our judiciary is performing better than Churchill show.”
From Changamwe Mp Omar Mwinyi ruling I can say that Maraga and his judiciary deserve further budget deduction.
Our judiciary is performing better than Churchill show.— INCREDIBLY TERRIBLE (@allen_arnold) August 2, 2018
When I first read the Changamwe Mp Omar Mwinyi sentence, I thought wow…finally justice…then I was hit by the OR 1million fine and I remembered I was in Kenya?Jokes on us!
— Faith Helen (@faithhelen21) August 2, 2018
Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi has been sentenced to four years in prison with an alternative of Sh1 million.
Does this mean if he pays 1M he will buy his freedom?
— Mr. Kinuthia Pius. (@Belive_Kinuthia) August 2, 2018