Court frees Marsabit MPs charged with incitement to violence

A Nairobi court on Thursday released Saku and North Horr Members of Parliament over allegations of inciting violence in Marsabit County in 2018.

Appearing before Milimani Law Courts Magistrate Bernad Nzakyo, Ali Rasso Dido (Saku) and Francis Chachu Ganya (North Horr) were discharged after the prosecution failed to prefer charges against them.

Prosecution asked for a further 14 days to conclude the matter but the court dismissed the prayer saying the four months they had been granted earlier was enough to carry out investigations and charge the two legislators.

“I don’t see the need to extend the bond terms for another two weeks. I therefore discharge the respondents and close this file,” the magistrate ruled.

The two MPs were arrested in October last year over allegations of inciting violence in Marsabit County leading to the death of at least 14 people.

The prosecution told the court that they are yet to receive transcripts of the translation of the alleged incitement utterances and that some of the witnesses have since been displaced hence the delay in investigations.

The two lawmakers were presented to court where the police sought to detain them in order to complete investigations.

The court also directed that Ksh.250,000 which was deposited by the duo in court as cash bail be returned to them.