MRC leader to be released on Sh3m bond

Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) leader Omar Hamisi Mwamnuadzi, his wife and 35 other suspects will be released on a Sh3 million bond each with a surety of similar amount, a court has ordered. Read (Two killed, MRC leader arrested in dawn gunfight)

Mombasa chief magistrate Stephen Riechi also directed the accused to report to Coast Provincial Criminal Investigations Officer (PCIO) every Monday at 9 am until further orders from the court.

In his ruling, the magistrate said the right to bail can only be tampered with in extreme circumstances which have not been shown by the prosecution.

The court further directed that one of the accused, a form four candidate to sit for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations at Shimo la Tewa High School, which is near the prison should he fail to raise the bond terms.

Defence lawyer Ananiah Mwaboza who is acting for the accused on pro bono basis made an application to be supplied with certified copies of the ruling.

Mr Mwamnuadzi, the self proclaimed ‘president’ has been charged with being in possession of a firearm and 15 rounds of ammunitions.

Mr Mwamnwadzi faced the charge together with his wife Ms Maimuna Hamisi Mwavyombo whom they have also been charged with being in possession of offensive weapons.

They also faced two counts of incitement to violence and being in possession of articles used in practising witchcraft.

Thirty five others suspected to be MRC members who were charged alongside the two are facing a charge of consorting with an armed person.

According to the prosecution, they allegedly consorted with Mr Mwamnwadzi and Ms Mwavyombo persons who without reasonable excuse were found in possession of a firearm and offensive weapons in circumstances that raised reasonable presumption that they were to be used in a manner prejudicial to public order.

Mr Mwaboza had applied to have the accused released on bond saying it is their constitutional right and that the charges are bailable.

State Counsel George Muriithi objected to the release of the accused on bond pending the hearing of the case.

Mr Mwamnwadzi and Ms Mwavyombo allegedly were found in possession of a firearm without a certificate, fifteen rounds of ammunition, four bottles of petrol bombs, three Swahili swords, six knives, four arrows, two bows, two Maasai swords, a spear, eight pangas and four catapults.

According to the prosecution, the offences are alleged to have been committed on October 15 this year in Kombani area, Kwale County.

The case has been fixed for hearing on October 31.