Raila wants man who hit him freed

Lengo Karisa Mdzomba arriving at Kwale law courts on September 29, 2014. PHOTOS | LABAN WALLOGA

What you need to know:

  • Kwale Law Courts magistrate Christine Njagi had set October 14 as the date when the case will be mentioned after the prosecutor, Mr George Mungai, asked for two weeks to compile a full report on the charges that were to include P3 forms that he expected Mr Odinga and Mr Mvurya to fill.
  • The ODM leader urged Mr Mdzomba to seize the opportunity, which he said “would create a chance to look each other in the eye and understand one another”. “I am not going to pursue the case against Mr Lengo Mdzomba. Neither will I fill the P3 forms sought by the state prosecution,” he said.
  • He noted that as leaders who represent people from all works of life; they are bound to face such challenges.

Cord leader Raila Odinga Wednesday said he will not press assault charges against the man who attacked him during a rally in Kwale County.

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, who was also struck at the Okoa Kenya Campaign rally in Kinango, on Monday, took cue and said he will not take legal action against Mr Lengo Karisa Mdzomba.

He promised to forgive the man on condition that he meets him face to face so that he can understand why the man attacked him.

This means that Mr Mdzomba, who was arrested on Tuesday and was detained on assault charges, is likely to be set free today.

COMPILE A FULL REPORT

“Cord leader Raila Odinga and Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya will not press charges against the man who attacked them during a rally in Kwale.

The two leaders will therefore not apply for or file P3 forms that the prosecution requires to proceed with assault charges against Mr Lengo Karisa Mdzomba,” a statement released by Mr Odinga’s spokesman Dennis Onyango said.

Kwale Law Courts magistrate Christine Njagi had set October 14 as the date when the case will be mentioned after the prosecutor, Mr George Mungai, asked for two weeks to compile a full report on the charges that were to include P3 forms that he expected Mr Odinga and Mr Mvurya to fill.

Mr Mungai had told the Kwale court that he would reach out to the two leaders and ask them to fill the P3 forms.

Mr Mdzomba pleaded guilty to the assault charges and a third count of creating a disturbance. Before pleading, he had asked the court to give him one week to apologise to the two leaders.
Yesterday, Mr Odinga asked Mr Mvurya to seek out the labourer to understand why he attacked them.

“Mr Odinga has appealed to Mr Mudzomba to get in touch with the Kwale governor’s office where the governor will listen to him,” Mr Onyango said.

The ODM leader urged Mr Mdzomba to seize the opportunity, which he said “would create a chance to look each other in the eye and understand one another”.

“I am not going to pursue the case against Mr Lengo Mdzomba. Neither will I fill the P3 forms sought by the state prosecution,” he said.

He noted that as leaders who represent people from all works of life; they are bound to face such challenges.

“We have taken this decision knowing very well that the accused is in court and he has also requested to be forgiven,” he said.

The governor said they are now working on documents to be presented before the court so that Mr Mdzomba can be set free. The documents, which include an affidavit, will be presented to court today.

“I have to meet him face-to-face and tell him straight in the eyes ‘I have forgiven you’,” he said.

CREATING A BAD IMAGE

Meanwhile, religious leaders from Kwale County under the umbrella of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) criticised Mr Mdzomba over the attack. Led by Sheikh Amir Banda, the clerics said such an action should not go unpunished.

Mr Banda said if the accused had issues with Mr Odinga, then he should have attacked him while in Kilifi, where Mr Mdzomba hails from, rather than creating a bad image of the Kwale County.
“This is a very bad act and never has it taken place anywhere in the coastal region for a leader to be attacked in a public meeting,” he said.

The Sheikh, who is also CIPK South Coast executive secretary, apologised to Mr Odinga and asked him to feel welcome in the county at all times.

“Kwale County is a Cord zone and it will forever remain so even if there are people who want to ruin our reputation,” he said.

Sheikh Banda also said a delegation has to be formed to travel to Nairobi and seek forgiveness from Mr Odinga just like leaders from Migori did when rowdy youths were involved in a security incident when President Kenyatta visited the area last month.