Igembe South MP just joined the so called elite club of Members of Parliament and Politicians that have had unpleasant encounter with the Kenyan Police. He joins other lifetime members like Babu Owino, Moses Kuria and Ferdinand Waititu. The list is just endless.
After interfering with the police in execution of their duties, the young legislator was today presented in Court to face charges. He appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Stella Abuya in the company of his lawyers Kirimi Mbogo, Ken Muriuki and Peter Kaimba.
He denied obstructing police constable Mohamed Ndemo at Muchuune near Mikinduri market in Tigania East on Monday, November 26.
He also denied a charge of aiding a motorcyclist in the same location who was under police custody to escape. Mwirigi is said to have interfered in police duties during the incident on the Meru-Mikinduri-Maua Highway.
The first time MP together with his counterparts Rahim Dawood and Eala’s Mpuru Aburi have been steering a crusade against alleged harassment of hundreds of operators of unlicensed saloon cars operating as matatus.
The legislator was constantly banished by the Court from his constituency and county for two weeks. T
Magistrate Abuya asked the MP to stay away from the area for 14 days to allow police complete investigations into the incident.
State counsel Claire Muriithi had asked the court to have the MP held for the same period so as not to interfere with the investigations.
Mwirigi’s defence team however claimed the MP faced mere misdemeanour for which no reason to continue keeping him in custody could be advance.
The Magistrate would however hear none of that and instead reminded the defence team of the grave nature of accusations labelled against the first-time MP even as she released him on a Shs. 1 million bond with one surety or a Shs. 500,000 bond.
“The charges the MP is facing are serious with count one attracting a fine of up to Sh1 million or a 10 year jail term,” said the magistrate in her ruling.
Was the MP right in interfering with a Police Operation?