Written by Cyrus Kimanga 📝
Nairobi County Assembly Speaker has been arraigned in court despite High Court orders preventing his arrest and subsequent prosecution.
Hon. Benson Mutura Kangara is accused of stealing by servant Ksh 5,348,984 from Nairobi City County.
According to the charges by the ODPP, Hon Kangara is alleged to have stolen the money on diverse dates between February 1, 2022 and February 28, 2022.
The money is believed to have come into his possession by virtue of his position in the County leadership.
Aware of the charges against him, he moved to the High court to maim his arrest and prosecution by securing a court order preventing the same.
The High court issued orders restricting the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (ODPP) and the DCI from pursuing and arresting the speaker.
However, he was arrested and spent the night in custody before being produced in court today for a plea taking.
Through his Advocates, Hon Kangara told the court that his arrest is political in nature based on his affiliation to a certain political party in Kenya.
Further, his Lawyer submitted that Hon Kangara’s attempted arrest on March 22, 2022 while in his official Chamber was in a direct violation of his rights.
The court was at a dilemma on whether to allow the speaker to take plea or allow the High court application proceed to determination.
Nonetheless, Magistrate Esther Kimilu released him on a bond of Ksh 1m or a cash bail of Ksh 500,000 pending hearing of the High court application.
