The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has formally charged a Congolese national who was arrested at the Namanga border after spending seven days in police custody.
The accused, Muderwa Mega Abedi, faces charges of giving false information to an immigration officer stationed at the Namanga border in Kajiado County. According to the prosecution, Abedi allegedly identified himself as Banambaya Kapapa Emery in an attempt to exit Kenya unlawfully.
Appearing before Magistrate Godfrey Onsarigo, Abedi pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution requested that the court deny him bail, arguing that he posed a flight risk due to his attempt to flee from Kenyan jurisdiction.
However, defence lawyers Danstan Omari and Shedrack Wambui argued that Abedi, an elderly musician from the Democratic Republic of Congo, uses multiple stage names during performances. They claimed that the name he provided at the border was one of his stage aliases, therefore when the immigration officer stopped him at the border he gave them one of his stage show names therefore he never gave false information.
Advocate Omari further contended that the charge of giving false information might not hold up during the trial. He emphasized that the prosecution had not presented any substantial evidence to support denying bail on the grounds of flight risk.
Highlighting Abedi’s financial situation, Omari stated that the accused was of modest means and had been traveling via a public service vehicle (PSV) at the time of his arrest—an indication that he lacked the resources to flee.
The defence urged the court to grant Abedi lenient bail terms.
Magistrate Onsarigo ordered that the accused remain in custody until April 24, 2025, when the court is expected to deliver a ruling on his bail and bond application.
