Korogocho MCA taken to court over incitement

Korogocho MCA Absalom Odhiambo at a Milimani court on January 31, 2023. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Korogocho MCA Absalom Odhiambo was arraigned yesterday over incitement claims.

Odhiambo who was arrested on Monday was presented in court on Tuesday under a miscellaneous application.

The ward rep was arraigned before Milimani principal magistrate Gilbert Shikwe.

Police made an application seeking to detain him for seven days to complete investigations.

The application by the investigating officer Sergeant Francis Mwita stated that Odhiambo allegedly made remarks intended to incite violence and create disturbance during a public address at Chungwa House, the headquarters of ODM.

He allegedly made the remarks on January 25.

The court adjourned for 30 minutes to enable the prosecution go through the affidavit by Mwita, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer based at Central Police Station.

The prosecution stated that they were not familiar with the content of the affidavit by the DCI officer and needed time to study it before responding.

The MCA's lawyers led by Danstan Omari claimed that his arrest was politically instigated.

"Your honour, I have in the recent past represented many politicians from the Tangatanga side of the former regime who were arrested brought in court, charged and some of them are now in the government after their cases were thrown out because of lack of evidence," argued Omari.

He maintained that his client was innocent saying: "This is a respectable family man but was only arrested because he is from a different political formation. His arrest is hot air if I may borrow words of the CJ."

Omari claimed two former governors had been released on bail after being arrested over allegations of incitement.

The prosecution side however objected to bail request terming Odhiambo a flight risk

"The magistrate ordered that Odhiambo be detained "where he will have access to his lawyer and family.