‘Sonko’ roughed up by MRC members

Makadara MP Gideon Mbuvi (right) and members of the MRC outside the Mombasa law court. [Photo: Kevin Odit/Stadard]

By Willis Oketch

Youth roughed up Makadara MP Gedion Mbuvi alias Sonko outside a court where he had gone to seek release of a Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) leader.

Mbuvi had to seek refuge inside the court premises when the youth accused him of being sponsored by the State to meddle in MRC affairs.

“We do not want your help any more.  Go away,” shouted  the youth as they surged towards the MP after a magistrate adjourned Mwamnwadzi’s bail application to Monday next week.

As the crowd surged and grew louder the MP’s bodyguards whisked him away into the safety of the court before going into the court’s underground cells to meet Mwamnwadzi.

Mbuvi who presented the titles he alleges are worth Sh20million on Friday to secure Mwamnwadzi’s and his wife Msimuns’ release threatened to withdraw his offer.

Mombasa Senior Principal Magistrate Joyce Gandani told Mwamnwadi on Wednesday that his application to be freed on a Sh200,000 as a substitution of the Sh1 million bail could not be heard because police had not brought a report on the authenticity and value of the three titles uttered by Mbuvi.

“This matter will be mentioned before Mombasa Chief Magistrate who heard the application for bond application,” said the magistrate.

Mwamnwadzi and 37 others have denied being in possession of fire arm, witchcraft material and inciting rebellion.

Meanwhile Secretary for MRC’s Council of Elder Salim Hamisi Mlamba was charged with belonging to an unlawful society and slapped with a Sh1 million bond and a surety of a similar amount.

Mlamba joined Mwamnwadzi and MRC spokesman Rashid Mraja and the group’s Secretary General Hamza Randu at the same prison where they have been detained since early last month after they were unable to meet hefty bond conditions.