Makadra MP Gidion Kioko Mbuvi alias Sonko will remain in custody until Friday, a court ruled yesterday. Kibere chief magistrate Cecilia Githua remanded Mr Mbuvl at Kileleshwa Police Station following an application by the State. Represented by four lawyers led by Paul Muite and Cecil Miller, the accused denied two fresh counts of obtaining money by preferences and conspiracy to defraud.
In the first count, he was charged with obtaining Sh300,000 from Ms Chepehumba Kogo pretending he would sell her a car. He allegedly committed the offense in Mombasa on November 24, 2.009. In the second count, Mr Mbuvi denied conspiring to defraud Mr Chirag Sanghrejka of Sh2.8 million pretending that a land parcel in Kwale was genuine and valid for sale. The court heard that he committed the offence at Tile Carpet Centre on Mombasa Road, Nairobi, on August 16, 2006. Mr Multe and Mr Miller applied for their client to be freed on bail, ‘The lawyers argued that the MP has a right to be admitted to bail unless there are compelling reasons. Mr Multe said their client might lose his parliamentary seat if he misses eight sittings. “I urge the court to consider bail application. The court is not a holding ground for prosecution. They should complete Investigations before bringing the accused to court,” Mr Multe argued. But the prosecutor, chief inspector Joseph Musyoka, objected to the bail application. He said: The accused had another case whereby he had been arrested and released on bond on April 30, 2008.
He was to appear for plea hearing on May 5, 2008. “He never appeared and a warrant of arrest against him was issued on the same day.’ Mr Musyoka told the court that if released on bond he might jump bail again. The prosecutor added that the accused has another warrant of arrest,. which is, pending before the Nairobi chief magistrate’s court whereby he is yet to take a plea with regard to obtaining Shs13 million from Roche Hans Joakim, a German.
In her ruling, the magistrate allowed the prosecutor’s prayers and remanded the MP for three days. Mr Mbuvi was brought to cort under tight security and locked in court cells some minutes before tam, His supporters later jammed the court precincts. They packed at Court No.1, making it difficult for the magistrate to take the plea. Court orderlies then arranged for the plea to be taken from Court No,2. They later blocked the gate, but were forcibly removed before Mr Mbuvi was whisked away by police. Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny and his Embakasi counterpart Ferdinard Waititu were in court to hear the case. Mr Mbuvi’s arrest came after a re-port by the CID on his alleged activities was handed over to Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere. The dossier revealed that the MP has been involved in various criminal activities, but was being protected by senior police officers.
