Content creator Erick Omondi has been convicted and sentenced to serve one month in prison for taking part in unlawful assembly contrary to the law.
Erick was arrested alongside Peter Mukundi, Elisha Ochieng, Felix Ikutwa, Frank Misango, Alpha Juma, Cyril Isindu, Bonface Bahati, William Leshinka, Walder Sisulu, Philip Kiura, Ken Ndula, Mbwaya Mwale Duncan Wafula Rodgers Livoi and Wyclif Ligano on February 21,2023 along parliament road.
Initially, the accused denied the charges and were released on Ksh 10,000 cash bail.
However, when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina today, they changed their plea to guilty.
The court convicted all the accused persons on their own plea of guilty.
In mitigation, the convicts prayed for a lenient sentence saying they were basically advocating against the high cost of living and that the sentence should not be too harsh such that it would discourage other activists from advocating for human rights for fear of being met with the lethal force of the law.
The court sentenced them to one month in prison with an alternative fine of Ksh 10,000 to secure their release.
“I have considered the mitigation made and the nature of the offense which is a misdemeanor and the fact that the prosecution has said that they are first time offenders. I have also considered that they have saved the court’s judicial time. Each of the suspects is hereby fined Ksh 10,000 in default to serve one month in jail.”
The convicts were subsequently given fourteen days of appeal if dissatisfied with the sentence.
