Court Releases two Raila Diehards, Bars Police From Arresting Them Again

A Nairobi High Court has released two supporters of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya  Alliance who were arrested on Friday ahead of Monday demonstrations. 

Calvin Gaucho and Nuru Okanga, who are well-known for mobilising Azimio supporters were put in custody on Friday and they stayed throughout the weekend.

The two were arrested over Monday demonstrations.

They were arraigned on Monday and charged before the court.

However, ruling on their release on bail, Principal magistrate  M.A Opondo ordered the police not to arrest them again after their release.

"The respondents shall each be released on a cash bail of Sh1000 with respect to all the charges the state contemplates to bring against each of them as covered in the State's application," he ruled.

"The respondents shall not be arrested or detained by the police. If a decision to charge them is made, they shall be summoned to present themselves to court to take a plea."

The state was given 14 days to appeal the rulings.

The two were represented by Lawyer Danstan Omari.

Omari said the two, who are members of the Azimio-allied Movement for Defense of Democracy (MDD) and were initially taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters after being held separately at Limuru and Karuri without any specified charges being preferred against them.

Omari claimed that Gaucho and Okanga were being held for allegedly participating in Azimio’s Monday protests.

“They have been told to record a statement concerning allegations that they participated in an illegal protest,” he said.

He said DCI detectives wanted the two to record statements regarding the demonstrations, but he advised them against doing so and they heeded.