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City MCA accused of killing bodyguard released on bail


A member of the Nairobi County Assembly (MCA) Peter Owera Oluoch accussed of killing the bodyguard of a Mathare’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) parliamentary aspirant lawyer Antony Oluoch has been released on a Sh300,000 cash bail.

Although Mr Owera and six others were freed on bond, he was ordered to cooperate with the police investigating the case.

The court heard on Wednesday that eight witness did not “ identify Mr Owera as one of the killers of Daniel Okumu Ogongo during a rally at Huruma Grounds in Starehe sub-county.”

Defence lawyer Harun Ndubi alleged that Mr Oluoch had urged him not to defend the suspect.

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT

Mr Ndubi said Mr Oluoch is attempting to hinder the seven from their constitutional right of being defended by an advocate of their choice.

He told the magistrate that political rivalries were behind the arrest of Mr Owera so that “ party nominations for the seat can be done when he is in detention.”

Mr Ndubi said “ eight witnesses failed to identify the MCA as one of the attackers of the deceased-Ogongo.”

Trial magistrate Ms Hellen Onkwani was told Mr Owera and the other suspects are not a threat to the investigations as no allegations were made that they would interfere with the witnesses.

State prosecutor Ms Lincy Mugambi said the offence being investigated Is serious as “somebody lost his life during the rally on March 26 convened by the suspect.

STABBED DURING MELEE

The deceased was stabbed with a knife during a melee and succumbed to the injuries.

In her ruling , Ms Onkwani said although the allegation against the suspects is serious as it involves loss of life, Article 49 (1) (h) gives her discretion to admit the supects to bond while investigations are underway.

She directed police to finalise investigations within 14 days.

The magistrate directed the case be mentioned on April 12, 2017.