Jirongo released after raising Ksh.5M, CS Wamalwa gives car as surety

Former presidential aspirant Cyrus Jirongo has secured his release after paying Ksh.5 million cash bail beating a 24-hour deadline which would have seen him go to jail.

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa who had accompanied Jirongo to court gave his Mercedes Benz as surety to help secure Jirongo’s release.

The former Lugari legislator spent two nights at the Muthangari police station after he was arrested for failing to pay a Ksh.20 million debt owed to businessman Brian Yongo following a court order.

Jirongo, who appeared before Deputy Registrar Elizabeth Tanui at the Milimani Courts on Wednesday denied the allegations even as the petitioner pleaded with the court to have him jailed for six months.

The former presidential aspirant however told court that the payments towards clearing the said debt were ongoing further urging the court to give him time to present the evidence.

According to Yongo, he loaned the former MP Ksh.25 million between 2014 and 2015, but has only paid a fifth of the amount.

On Wednesday, the court ordered him to deposit a sum of Ksh.5 million or face remand but his lawyers asked for more time saying the amount was too high.

The lawyers added that they had Ksh.900,000 which they were willing to pay but their request was denied and it was then that he was given until Thursday 2PM to cough up the Ksh.5 million or go to remand jail.

In her ruling, Deputy Registrar Elizabeth Tanui noted that Jirongo has had time since August 6, 2018, adding that there was no explanation he gave as to why he did not present himself in court.