Traffic jam costs Waibara Sh30,000

Former Gatundu North MP Clement Waibara arrives at the Nyeri Law Courts on May 27, 2014 for a defence hearing of a case in which he is charged with conspiracy to murder. Mr Waibara was supposed to be in court by 9am but he arrived 45 minutes later. PHOTO/JOSEPH KANYI

What you need to know:

  • Waibara was supposed to be in court by 9am but he arrived 45 minutes later.
  • By the time Mr Waibara was walking into the court, the magistrate had already issued a warrant of his arrest and cancelled his Sh30,000 bail.
  • She changed the terms after Mr Waibara said he had been caught up in a traffic jam.
  • She added that Mr Waibara was in the habit of arriving late in court, prompting her decision.

Former Gatundu North MP Clement Kung'u Waibara Wednesday risked a warrant of arrest after he arrived late for the hearing of his case.

According to resident magistrate Ms Joanne Wambilyanga, the accused was supposed to be in court by 9am but he arrived 45 minutes later.

By the time Mr Waibara, who is facing a charge of conspiracy to murder, was walking into the court, the magistrate had already issued a warrant of his arrest and cancelled his Sh30,000 bail.

SICK LAWYER

However, she changed the terms after Mr Waibara said he had been caught up in a traffic jam.

He also told the court that he wanted to represent himself since his lawyer, Mr Polycarp Ongwae, was in hospital.

Ms Wambilyanga lifted the arrest warrant but maintained that Mr Waibara’s bail had been forfeited.

The magistrate said the former MP had inconvenienced the court and was to pay another bail of Sh50,000 or be remanded.

She added that Mr Waibara was in the habit of arriving late in court, prompting her decision.

“Due to the cancellation of the earlier cash bail, you will therefore pay a cash bail of Sh50,000,”she said.

The case was scheduled to be the last defence hearing for Mr Waibara before the court delivers a verdict on the matter.

Mr Waibara is facing charges of conspiring to kill Bernard Chege on diverse dates between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011 in Thika Town.

'HIRED HIT MEN'

The former MP is alleged to have hired two hit men to kill the complainant after he refused to withdraw an election petition he had filed against the MP in court in 2008.

Mr Chege had earlier told the court that he purportedly learnt of Mr Waibara’s intention to murder him after received a phone call from the hit man claimed to have been hired to kill him.

The complainant said the hit man known as Michael Junior allegedly told him that the former legislator had paid him Sh30,000 to kill him but decided not to do so and advised him to hide.

Mr Chege alleged that he went into hiding in Nakuru, and months later met with the MP who was surprised to see him alive and allegedly hired a second hit man to kill him.

This prompted the complainant to report the matter to police officers who charged Mr Waibara in court.

Ms Wambilyanga ruled on October 18, 2013 that the former MP had a case to answer.

The hearing resumes on June 17, 2014.