Reprieve for Aisha Jumwa as court lifts arrest warrant

Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Outgoing Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa got a reprieve after a Mombasa Court temporarily suspended a warrant of arrest against her.

Ms Jumwa, who was represented by lawyer Jared Magolo, told the court that she was admitted at a hospital in Nairobi.

Magolo, however, asked the court to convert the mention scheduled for August 23, 2022 from physical appearance in court to a virtual mention since Jumwa will still be in hospital and unable to travel to Mombasa.

"Jumwa's condition deteriorated and she is currently admitted at a hospital in Nairobi. We pray for the suspension of the warrant of arrest until August 23 when the case will be coming up for mention," Magolo told Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku.

The prosecution confirmed receiving a letter dated August 17 from Magolo saying there were further developments in the matter.

The prosecution, however, did not object to the suspension of the warrant of arrest and agreed to have the matter mentioned virtually.

In her short ruling, Chief Magistrate Mutuku ordered the matter to be mentioned on August 23 at 9am and the virtual session will be for all the parties.

Ms Mutuku further suspended the warrant of arrest against Jumwa until the mention date, and asked the MP to provide the court with her medical records.

Jumwa is charged alongside seven others with conspiring to commit an offence of corruption namely fraud through the payment of Sh19,007,539.60 to a company.