Makueni MCAs hostile to new principal released on bond

Mr Urbanus Wambua, a nominated member of Makueni County Assembly (in vest) confronts police officers at St Joseph’s Girls High School in Kibwezi on January 11, 2018 during a confrontation between a group of Makueni MCAs rejecting a new principal to the school and education officials. PHOTO | PIUS MAUNDU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The MCAs on Thursday attempted to block a new principal from reporting to duty in Kibwezi.
  • They were charged with incitement to violence and conspiring to ruin reputation, and also undermining the authority of a public officer.

The Makueni MCAs arrested on Thursday for attempting to prevent a new principal from reporting to St Joseph Girls High School in Kibwezi were on Friday released from custody on bond.

MCAs Jades Kalunda (Kikumbulyu South), Nicholas Maitha and nominated MCAs Urbanus Wambua,  Miriam Musyoka and Janet Ngina were arrested at a meeting with education officials at the school after they protested against Ms Rose Kiragu taking over as school head.

CHARGED

They had spent the night at Mtito Andei Police Station and were driven to Kilungu Law Court in the morning, amid tight security.

They were charged with incitement to violence and conspiring to ruin reputation, and also undermining the authority of a public officer.

The MCAs denied all the charges before Senior Resident Magistrate Elizabeth Muiru.

They were released on Sh500,000 bond each after their lawyer Daniel Maanzo opposed the prosecution's application to deny them bond and detain them until Monday.

"I find the application by the prosecution to deny the accused persons bond unmerited and therefore the accused are released on Sh500,000 each and a surety of the same amount, or  a cash bail of Sh300,000," said Ms Muiru said as the audience in court celebrated.

The case will be mentioned on February 15.