Court discharges Mike Sonko from surety for MRC leader

Nairobi Senator Mike Mbuvi Sonko (second right) leaves the Mombasa Law Courts on June 12, 2017 after he was discharged from being surety for the fugitive Mombasa Republican Council leader Omar Mwamnuadzi. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The senator had earlier told the court that he had sent people as far as Tanzania to track the missing MRC chairman without any trace.

  • The MRC leader was charged alongside Ms Maimuna Hamisi Mwavyombo with being in possession of offensive weapons.

  • Principal Magistrate Francis Kyambia, however, ordered Mr Mbuvi to deposit Sh200,000 in court for two cases in which he stood surety for Mr Mwamnuadzi.

Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko Mbuvi has been discharged by a Mombasa court from being a surety for fugitive Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) leader Omar Hamisi Mwamnuadzi.

Principal Magistrate Francis Kyambia, however, ordered Mr Mbuvi to deposit Sh200,000 in court for two cases in which he stood surety for Mr Mwamnuadzi.

Mr Kyambia said although the Nairobi gubernatorial seat candidate would have forfeited the Sh1 million he had deposited as surety for the accused, the court was satisfied with his determination to bring the MRC leader in court.

The senator had earlier told the court that he had sent people as far as Tanzania to track the missing MRC chairman without any trace.

In his ruling, the magistrate stated that the senator also stood surety for 35 other accused persons charged alongside Mr Mwamnuadzi, but who never absconded their trials.

He ordered police to track Mr Mwamnuadzi and take him to court.

The court, which had also issued a warrant of arrest for Mr Mwamnuadzi, ruled that it would also hear an application by Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko to proceed with the case without the accused’s presence.

The MRC leader was charged alongside Ms Maimuna Hamisi Mwavyombo with being in possession of offensive weapons.

The case will be heard on July 28.