Failed petition that left politician owing thousands

By SANDRA CHAO

Lamu politician Rishad Hamid Ahmed alias Amana has been committed to a three-month civil jail for failing to settle the cost of an election petition.

Police arrested him over Sh700,000 cost of an election petition he filed against Lamu West MP Fahim Twaha.

There was drama at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Wednesday, as the Democratic Party of Kenya national deputy chairman tried to board a flight to Nairobi.

Lamu politician Rishad Ahmed is escorted to Mombasa Law Courts cells Wednesday. [PHOTO: OMONDI ONYANGO/ STANDARD]

Police pounced on Amana and locked him up at the Mombasa law court cells. His loud protests and plea to be released not heeded.

The arrest came a day after he sought refuge at the office of the Yemeni consulate in Mombasa as police pursued him.

Amana is in trouble over election petition number 4 of 2003, which he filed against Mr Fahim and lost.

The High Court in Mombasa had issued a warrant of arrest for Amana after he failed to pay 603,182.70 in a petition dated November 30, 2007.

He filed the petition in High Court against the Lamu West MP after disputing results of the 2002 elections.

The warrant issued on August 25, last year, commanded the arrest of Amana with convenient speed after failing to pay the decree that had accrued to Sh704,517.30.

Rishad earlier denied allegations he was behind the irregularities surrounding the sale of parcels of land in Ras Kitau area of Shella.