Senator Mike Sonko pledges to present MRC leader in court

Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has said he will present to court Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) leader Omar Hamisi Mwamnuadzi, who has failed to attend the hearing of his case.

Mr Sonko, who stood surety for the MRC leader, on Friday told Mombasa Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti that he knows the repercussions of failing to present the accused in court.

A warrant of arrest has already been issued against Mr Mwamnuadzi.

The magistrate gave the senator two months to present the accused in court.

In August, the court summoned Mr Sonko to explain the whereabouts of the MRC leader.

Mr Mwamnuadzi is facing a charge of being in possession of a firearm and rounds of ammunitions.

The offences were allegedly committed on October 15, 2012 in Kombani, Kwale County.

Principal Prosecution Counsel Jami Yamina filed an application seeking to prosecute the case in the absence of the accused.

Mr Yamina said nine witnesses had testified and four more were scheduled to do so.

The prosecutor said the accused must not be allowed to benefit from his own misconduct by preventing the trial from proceeding in his absence.