Jirongo freed from cell after CS Wamalwa gives Mercedes

Former presidential candidate Cyrus Jirongo at the High Court in Milimani, Nairobi, on September 19, 2018. PHOTO | SAM KIPLAGAT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Wamalwa gave his Mercedes Benz as a surety to have Mr Jirongo released.

  • The former Member of Parliament spent two nights in a police cell after failing to raise a cash bail of Sh5 million.
  • The CS handed over the log book of his car before Deputy Registrar Elizabeth Tanui a few minutes after 1pm, the deadline that Mr Jirongo had been given.

Former Lugari lawmaker Cyrus Jirongo finally secured his freedom from police custody on Thursday afternoon after Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa came to his aid.

Mr Wamalwa gave his Mercedes Benz as a surety for the release of Mr Jirongo, who was to pay a cash bail of Sh5 million.

LOG BOOK

The former Member of Parliament spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights in a police cell after failing to raise the cash bail.

The CS handed over his car's log book before Deputy Registrar Elizabeth Tanui, a few minutes after 1pm, the deadline that Mr Jirongo had been given.

The former MP risked being taken to remand prison over a debt of Sh20 million owed to businessman Bryan Yongo.

The surety allows Mr Jirongo to reorganise himself and plan to settle the debt. He is expected to demonstrate the mode of payment to Mr Yongo.

Mr Jirongo was arrested on Tuesday, following the issuing of a warrant on August 6, 2018.

The accused's failure to settle the debt prompted Mr Yongo to apply for warrants for his arrest.

He was arrested because he failed to appear in court to explain why he should not be committed to civil jail for failing to service a debt he acknowledged.

The politician earlier agreed to pay Mr Yongo, saying he would prioritise this after selling his 500 acres of land in Ruai, Nairobi County, and another five acres in Kisumu. He had also been expecting compensation from the Nairobi government for a plot in Industrial Area.

Mr Yongo's application followed one by Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, who is demanding Sh110 million from Mr Jirongo.