A digital taxi driver has been charged with abducting a senior police officer who had allegedly arrested him for violating traffic rules.
Francis Karanja Wango faced three counts of abduction, resisting arrested and causing an obstruction on a public road.
Wango denied the three counts when he was charged before Milimani chief magistrate Susan Shitubi.
He denied that he abducted Inspector Joseph Asugo on March 22, 2023, along Ngong Road within Nairobi County.
The director of public prosecutions (DPP) told the court the accused intended to detain the complainant for an alleged illegal act.
“I urge this court to free me on bond as it is both my constitutional and fundamental right,” Wango prayed.
He added that he is not a flight risk and no compelling reasons have been advanced by the prosecution to warrant the court exercise its discretion otherwise.
But the state prosecutor urged the court to take judicial notice that the case against the Uber driver is not an ordinary traffic case.
“I urge this court to take judicial notice that the accused herein is charged with abducting a senior police officer with intend to secretly and wrongfully confine the law enforcer,” the prosecutor told Ms Shitubi.
The prosecutor urged the court to impose stringent bail terms.
But the magistrate freed Wango on a cash bail of Sh200,000 saying although the allegations are serious they cannot be used as a reason to deny the accused bond or impose stringent terms.
Ms Shitubi however required the accused to observe bail terms by turning up in court during his trial.
The court directed the prosecution to supply him with exhibits and witness statements.
The case will be mentioned within a fortnight for pre-trial directions.