Comedian Eric Omondi charged with unlawful assembly over protest

Comedian Eric Omondi at a Milimani court on April 4, 2023. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Comedian Eric Omondi and four others have been charged with taking part in an unlawful assembly.

The suspects who were arraigned before Kisumu Chief Magistrate Nixon Onyango denied the charges and were released on Sh20,000 bond.

The comedian who was arrested by police officers along the streets of Kisumu on Wednesday has had several run-ins with authorities for allegedly conducting an unlawful assembly.

On Thursday, Tony Onanda, the prosecutor in the case urged the court to order Omondi accompanied by Maxwell Bunde, Austin Oduor, Zephaniah Ouma, and Sylvester Omondi not to participate in unlawful activities again.

Omondi Kowino, a lawyer representing the suspects told the court to release them on bail, arguing that they were not a flight risk.

He noted that three of the accused were students and stayed in Kisumu hence they were not a flight risk, adding that Omondi is from the region but only stays in Nairobi.

"This is no basis to deny our clients cash bail because they are not a flight risk".

The case will be heard on June 5, 2023.